The seven wonders of Östergötland, The Local

From the natural to the man-made, the stunning, diverse region of Östergötland has many highlights. The Local uncovers some of them and ponders, is this the best place to live in Sweden?

Östergötland, or East Sweden, is flanked by the Baltic Sea on one side, and impressive Lake Vättern on the other. It’s home to cities, including Linköping and Norrköping, and a number of vibrant towns. The region has a reputation for being a haven of innovation and industry and is well connected, with two airports and short connection time via train to Stockholm – just 1.5 hours from Norrköping and about two hours from Linköping. 

A population of 467,000 people already call this beautiful pocket of Sweden home, and more and more people are moving here. They are drawn to its work-life balance, study opportunities, exciting tech careers and affordable living, where nature and city life are both on the doorstep.

We spoke to two of Östergötland's residents – Anna Österlund, a nature-lover who grew up in the region, and Colombian-born Hela Galvis who has lived and studied in Sweden for five years – and also got some help from East Sweden to round up seven wonders that make Östergötland so special.

1. Cool industrial landscapes

Östergötland has creativity and industrial innovation built into its DNA it seems. Nicknamed Sweden’s Manchester for its industrial heritage and vibe, Norrköping is a medium-sized city about 135 kilometres south of Stockholm. The city is home to former textile warehouses and paper mills from the Industrial Revolution era, which are well-preserved and located on the waterfront in the city centre.

The historic buildings and waterways, with their dams and waterfalls, are accessed via bridges and paths and make for a unique landscape. 

Both Hela and Anna highlight Industrilandskapet (The Industrial Landscape) of Norrköping and its evolution today. “Now these closed textile factories are pulsating restaurants, museums, homes, apartments, co-working office spaces, walking routes – the area's really come to life … it's absolutely one of the coolest things to see here,” says Anna. 

“There are beautiful canals to walk around in both Norrköping and Linköping,” says Hela.

Another transformation of a former industrial area is underway in Östergötland in the birthplace of the Göta Kanal, Motala. Known as the ‘cradle of industry in Sweden’, the area of the old Motala Verkstad is about to change, starting with the exciting, newly renovated Lokverkstan, an event area bringing unique life, action and concerts to this historic waterfront.

2. An impressive man-made feat: Göta Kanal

Speaking of Göta Kanal, this local wonder is an engineering marvel. Constructed in the early 19th century, the canal and its 58 locks runs for an incredible 190 kilometres and links to waterways that reach from Söderköping in Östergötland to Gothenburg on Sweden’s west coast. 

From ice skating in the winter to swimming in the summer, and from cycling beside it to boating along it, there are a number of ways and places to enjoy the canal. 

One of Anna’s weekend activities, after a fika with friends and her children, is a walk by the canal. “You can't help but to be amazed by the engineering, and that's from 200 years ago when they built it, and it's still up and running,” she says.

Read the full article here.
This content was created in partnership with East Sweden.