Karlskrona
Encyclopedia
Karlskrona is a locality and the seat of Karlskrona Municipality
, Blekinge County
, Sweden
with 35,212 inhabitants in 2010. It is also the capital of Blekinge County
. Karlskrona is known as Sweden's only baroque
city and is host to Sweden's only remaining naval base
and the headquarters of the Swedish Coast Guard
.
.
The city grew quickly and by 1750 Karlskrona had about 10,000 inhabitants. It was then one of the biggest cities in the country. Most of the baroque buildings from this era are still standing, which is why the city centre is architecturally uniform. There are three important churches in Karlskrona, the first being Fredrikskyrkan (The Frederick church). It was designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Younger
, who was influenced by European architecture. The foundation of that church were laid in 1720, and it was inaugurated in 1744. It differs from usual Swedish churches in its yellow color and its adornment.
The church Heliga Trefaldighetskyrkan (Church of Holy Trinity), also called The German Church, was built between 1697–1709, following Tessin's drawings. It is likewise located at the market square in the centre core. The dome-shaped roof takes its influence from Italian architecture and is rarely seen on Swedish churches.
The third city church is the Karlskrona Admiralty Church
(Amiralitetskyrkan). The church was built in 1685 in red-painted wood. Outside the church there is a well-known statue called Rosenbom
.
The shipyard in Karlskrona was established almost at the same time as the city. It was a necessity because of the heavy losses the Swedish navy had suffered in 1689. In 1711, the shipyard was Sweden's largest industrial employer with 1,100 workers. The oldest dock, the Polhem dock, is cut in the cliff itself and is still in use. It got its name from Christopher Polhem
("The Swedish DaVinci", a famous scientist with several inventions still in use).
The city has kept its street structure since its foundation. Since the streets all follow a grid pattern the winds can blow freely from the ocean right into the heart of the city.
The naval installations there has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site
.
In October 1981 the Whiskey-class
Soviet submarine S-363 (called "U137" by the Swedes) ran aground in the archipelago just outside Karlskrona. The media characterized it as the "Whiskey on the Rocks" affair. The incident caused a temporary rise in tensions between Sweden and the Soviet Union. While the submarine's grounding was inadvertent, and likely the result of inebriation among the crew, the submarine almost certainly was engaged in an unspecified covert mission at the time.
The main square of Karlskrona is the biggest in Scandinavia, and actually the second biggest in Europe, after the Red Square
of Moscow
.
Every year in late July/early August a popular festival called The Sail takes place in the harbor of Karlskrona. Usually it is a place where families go to have something to eat and drink, and perhaps watch the sailing boats lined up at the pier. During the sail, the seascouts of Karlskrona will row a boat carrying torches along the docks while playing the national anthems for the visiting ships.
The old architecture together with the naval installations comprise the major tourist attractions of Karlskrona. The city has a pleasant atmosphere and is one of the highlights of south-east Sweden.
Outside the city lies the archipelago of Karlskrona, the most southern of the Swedish archipelagos.
Several islands are connected to the city by ferries.
Karlskrona Municipality
Karlskrona Municipality is a municipality in Blekinge County, southern Sweden. It borders to Emmaboda Municipality, Torsås Municipality and Ronneby Municipality...
, Blekinge County
Blekinge County
Blekinge County is a county or län in the south of Sweden. It borders the Counties of Skåne, Kronoberg, Kalmar and the Baltic Sea. The capital is Karlskrona...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
with 35,212 inhabitants in 2010. It is also the capital of Blekinge County
Blekinge County
Blekinge County is a county or län in the south of Sweden. It borders the Counties of Skåne, Kronoberg, Kalmar and the Baltic Sea. The capital is Karlskrona...
. Karlskrona is known as Sweden's only baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
city and is host to Sweden's only remaining naval base
Karlskrona naval base
Karlskrona naval base is the largest naval base of the Swedish Navy located in Blekinge in southern Sweden. The naval base has intimate ties with the city of Karlskrona. It has an exceptionally well sheltered location: arcs of islands provide a strong defense not only from the sea but also from...
and the headquarters of the Swedish Coast Guard
Swedish Coast Guard
The Swedish Coast Guard is a Swedish civilian government agency tasked with:* maritime surveillance and other control and inspection tasks as well as environmental cleanup after oil spills at sea....
.
Geography
The city centre is located on the island of Trossö. The islet of Stumholmen was formerly property of the Navy and today it houses the National Naval Museum (Marinmuseum).History
The city was founded in 1680 when the Royal Swedish Navy was relocated from the mainland to the island which had up until then been used chiefly for farming and grazing. At the time Sweden was the dominant military power in the Baltic sea region. The island had a very strategic position with short sailing distances to the German and Baltic provinces. Its name means Karl's Crown in honour of King Karl XI of Sweden, the name being inspired by the name of the city LandskronaLandskrona
Landskrona is a locality and the seat of Landskrona Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 28,670 inhabitants in 2005.-History:The city of Landskrona was founded at the location of Scania's best natural harbour, as a means of King Eric of Pomerania's anti-Hanseatic policy, intended to compete...
.
The city grew quickly and by 1750 Karlskrona had about 10,000 inhabitants. It was then one of the biggest cities in the country. Most of the baroque buildings from this era are still standing, which is why the city centre is architecturally uniform. There are three important churches in Karlskrona, the first being Fredrikskyrkan (The Frederick church). It was designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Younger
Nicodemus Tessin the Younger
Count Nicodemus Tessin the Younger was a Swedish Baroque architect, city planner, and administrator.The son of Nicodemus Tessin the Elder and the father of Carl Gustaf Tessin, Tessin the Younger was the middle-most generation of the brief Tessin dynasty, which have had a lasting influence on...
, who was influenced by European architecture. The foundation of that church were laid in 1720, and it was inaugurated in 1744. It differs from usual Swedish churches in its yellow color and its adornment.
The church Heliga Trefaldighetskyrkan (Church of Holy Trinity), also called The German Church, was built between 1697–1709, following Tessin's drawings. It is likewise located at the market square in the centre core. The dome-shaped roof takes its influence from Italian architecture and is rarely seen on Swedish churches.
The third city church is the Karlskrona Admiralty Church
Karlskrona Admiralty Church
The Admiralty Church is a church in Karlskrona and belongs to the Royal Karlskrona Admiralty Parish. The church is also known as the Ulrica Pia after Ulrike Eleonora . It is located near Vallgatan in the south east of the island Trossö...
(Amiralitetskyrkan). The church was built in 1685 in red-painted wood. Outside the church there is a well-known statue called Rosenbom
Rosenbom
thumb|Old Rosenbom in front of the churchthumb|The original inside the churchIn front of the Karlskrona Admiralty Church the popular wooden figure of Gubben Rosenbom has been standing since the mid 18th century. In 1956 the original was replaced by a copy and put in a safer place inside the church...
.
The shipyard in Karlskrona was established almost at the same time as the city. It was a necessity because of the heavy losses the Swedish navy had suffered in 1689. In 1711, the shipyard was Sweden's largest industrial employer with 1,100 workers. The oldest dock, the Polhem dock, is cut in the cliff itself and is still in use. It got its name from Christopher Polhem
Christopher Polhem
Christopher Polhammar , better known as , which he took after his ennoblement, was a Swedish scientist, inventor and industrialist. He made significant contributions to the economic and industrial development of Sweden, particularly mining.-Biography:Polhem was born on the island of Gotland...
("The Swedish DaVinci", a famous scientist with several inventions still in use).
The city has kept its street structure since its foundation. Since the streets all follow a grid pattern the winds can blow freely from the ocean right into the heart of the city.
The naval installations there has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
.
In October 1981 the Whiskey-class
Whiskey class submarine
Whiskey-class submarines are a class of naval submarines that the Soviet Union built in the early Cold War period.-Design:...
Soviet submarine S-363 (called "U137" by the Swedes) ran aground in the archipelago just outside Karlskrona. The media characterized it as the "Whiskey on the Rocks" affair. The incident caused a temporary rise in tensions between Sweden and the Soviet Union. While the submarine's grounding was inadvertent, and likely the result of inebriation among the crew, the submarine almost certainly was engaged in an unspecified covert mission at the time.
Today
The most important day in Karlskrona is the day before midsummer's eve. On that day a big fair takes place and attracts tens of thousands to visit Karlskrona. The fair is called Lövmarknaden (The Leaf Fair) and is very popular among the locals.The main square of Karlskrona is the biggest in Scandinavia, and actually the second biggest in Europe, after the Red Square
Red Square
Red Square is a city square in Moscow, Russia. The square separates the Kremlin, the former royal citadel and currently the official residence of the President of Russia, from a historic merchant quarter known as Kitai-gorod...
of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
Every year in late July/early August a popular festival called The Sail takes place in the harbor of Karlskrona. Usually it is a place where families go to have something to eat and drink, and perhaps watch the sailing boats lined up at the pier. During the sail, the seascouts of Karlskrona will row a boat carrying torches along the docks while playing the national anthems for the visiting ships.
The old architecture together with the naval installations comprise the major tourist attractions of Karlskrona. The city has a pleasant atmosphere and is one of the highlights of south-east Sweden.
Outside the city lies the archipelago of Karlskrona, the most southern of the Swedish archipelagos.
Several islands are connected to the city by ferries.
Parishes
- Karlskrona City Parish (from 10 August 1680)
- Karlskrona German Parish (from 10 August 1680 to 1 November 1846)
- Karlskrona Prisoner's Parish (from 1808 to 4 July 1866)
- The Mosaic Parish in KarlskronaThe Mosaic Parish in Karlskrona- History :Jews were not allowed to settle in Sweden until 1779 and 1782 the Department of Commerce stated that Jews were only allowed to settle in the three major cities of Stockholm, the capital, Gothenburg, the principal naval trade city, and Norrköping, the principal industrial city.-...
(1785 to 1994) - Royal Karlskrona Admiralty ParishRoyal Karlskrona Admiralty ParishThe Royal Admiralty Parish in Karlskrona, Sweden, is a non-territorial Lutheran parish for navy personnel and their families, which has existed in Karlskrona since 1685. Its church is the wooden "Admirality Church" built in 1685, located close to the naval shipyard area. There was also an...
(from 1681, a non-territorial parish)
Sports
The following sports clubs are located in Karlskrona:- Karlskrona AIFKarlskrona AIFKarlskrona AIF is a Swedish football club located in Karlskrona.-Background:The club was formed in 1968 as a result of the merger of Saltö BK, Karlskrona BK and Björkholmens IF....
- Karlskrona HKKarlskrona HKKarlskrona HK is an ice-hockey club in Sweden. They play in one of the six Division 1-series in Sweden.The teams in Division 1F 2011 are:*Halmstads HF*Helsingborgs HC*IK Pantern*Kallinge-Ronneby IF*Karlskrona HK*Kristianstads IK*Kungälvs IK...
- Hästö IF
External links
- Karlskrona Municipality - Official site
- Photos from Karlskrona article Karlskrona (from online version of Nordisk familjebokNordisk familjebokNordisk familjebok is a Swedish encyclopedia, published between 1876 and 1957.- History :The first edition was published in 20 volumes between 1876 and 1899. The first edition is known as the "Iðunn edition" because of the picture of Iðunn on the cover...
)