Norrköping Things to Do

Värmekyrkan (Church of Warmth or Heating) is an old industrial furnace that has been renovated and turned into an entertainment local where conserts, trade fairs and exhibitions are held.

It's name comes from the large open space inside that resembles a cathedral.

The Tube (Tuben) is an 3 meter wide old steel water pipe to a water power plant that has been preserved, the walls of the cylinder has been cut up to form a passage along the great waterfall.

The waterfall it runs along is over 100 meters wide and at night it is lit up from behind in a myriad of colors. One of the most dramatic and beautiful sights in Norrköping.

On an island in the Motala River lies the newly contructed Louis de Geer Concert Hall, named after the famous dutch industrialist. It was from the beginning a huge paper mill from the 17th century, iIt was renovated and turned into a Concert and Congress Hall.

It is one of Sweden's best Concert Halls and one of the most fascinating and interesting buildings. A visit to Norrk?ping is not complete without having a look on this amazing building.

In december every year on top of the old industrial building Värmekyrkan (The Heating Church) is the world's largest advent candlestick. The tradition started in 2000. Every sunday starting from the first of advent one "candle" is lit until all four is lit up at christmas.

It was the follow-up of the world's largest Santa Claus Cap that was placed over the City Hall tower the prevoius year (it blew of during a storm).

Norrköping has the second largest collection of rock carvings from the bronze age (1800 b.C. to 500 b.C.) in Sweden. There are a total of 7000 rock carvings spread in a 1,5*1,5 km area with the largest concentration in Himmelstalund.

If you happen to walk across Bergsbron in Norrköping you might notice a single chimney standing in the middle of the river looking like it's sinking or rising depending on your personality.

It's not really a real chimney, it was a gift to the new university in Norrköping by the city of Norrköping.

It's meaning is open for interpretation, some think it's a sad symbol for all the industrial shut-downs as the last chimney slowly sinks below the running water.

Some think of it as an old symbol rising out of the water as the university and the newly started companys located in the old industrial building's around it starts to come alive again.

take a look and decide for yourself.

The Museum of Work is located in one of Sweden's most beautiful buildings Strykjärnet (the Iron). The name comes from it's unusual shape (it has 7 corners) and was designed to follow the shape of the island it's built upon. In 2001 it was voted the second most beautiful building in all of Sweden in a national competion.

The Museum of Work has free entrance and has about 7 exihibitions running at the same time.

Not to forget there's a great restuarant at the top floor with great food, the lunch buffé is especially good. We used to get together and eat lunch there at the end of the week when I went to the university.

Started by walloon entrepreneur Louis De Geer (who has since lent his name to many things in town), the textile and paper mills and other industries here had their heydays in the 19th century but the last one didn't close until well into the 20th century and still today, there is life here in the form of museums and university buildings amongst the ever present cascades and pools of water. Especially interesting if you enjoy photography with industrial buildings, water reflexions and colours.