Skara
Encyclopedia
Skara is a locality
and the seat of Skara Municipality
, Västra Götaland County
, Sweden
with 18595 inhabitants in 2005. Despite its small size, it has a long educational and ecclesiastical history. One of Sweden's oldest high schools, Katedralskolan
(cathedral school), is situated in Skara. When the new gymnasium was built in 1988, it kept the old name and the old school was named Djäkneskolan. (The word djäkne comes from diakon, meaning servant of the church.)
motorway, about 130 kilometers northeast of Gothenburg
, in the centre of Västergötland.
The name Skara comes from Skåra or Skarv, which means score. It is believed to refer to the terrain
.
, the other being Lödöse
. Skara was the location for the regional assembly, the Thing of all Geats
.
With the Christianization of Sweden
, around 1000 AD, Skara became the seat for the bishop and a religious centre for the ensuing centuries. There have been bishops of Skara in an unbroken succession to this day.
Many important assemblies were held in Skara in medieval times. Examples include the important Swedish chancellor meeting in 1326. A meeting of Swedish, Danish and Norwegians in 1458, decided upon the later Kalmar Union
.
In the ensuing medieval centuries, monasteries
and other churches were completed in the town. The first monastery was for the Dominican order
, called the monastery of Saint Olaf, opened in 1234; the other was of the Franciscan order, known as Saint Catherine (or Katarina in Swedish), recorded in 1259.
The foundations of the Skara Cathedral
are believed to stem from around 1050. The current cathedral was inaugurated in 1150, but findings during the last 50 years show it must be at least a century older. Its current appearance, however, stems from renovations in the 1880s by Helgo Zettervall
, who also renovated the Cathedral of Uppsala
.
, dead in 1064, was found in his grave in the 18th century. For a while the Adalvardskalken was used in the Holy Communion.
Some 44 pages of a book containing texts and hymns of 11th-century Catholic rituals is held and exhibited by the Västergötland museum in Skara. The oldest book in Sweden, it was written between 1100-1150 by Skara monks.
Other ancient objects have been found during excavations of the monasteries and churches.
is a popular amusement park
with a reputation well known throughout the nation. Most notable is its water park with water chutes, artificial rafts, etc.
The official museum of Västergötland
is in Skara.
Urban areas in Sweden
Urban area is a common English translation of the Swedish term tätort. The official term in English, used by Statistics Sweden, is, however, locality. There are 1,940 localities in Sweden . They could be compared with census-designated places in the United States.A tätort in Sweden has a minimum of...
and the seat of Skara Municipality
Skara Municipality
Skara Municipality is a municipality in Västra Götaland County in western Sweden. Its seat is located in the city of Skara.The area of the municipality consists of 16 original local government entities. The municipal reform of 1952 grouped them into four new entities...
, Västra Götaland County
Västra Götaland County
Västra Götaland County is a county or län on the western coast of Sweden.The county is the second largest of Sweden's counties and it is subdivided into 49 municipalities . Its population of 1,550,000 amounts to 17% of Sweden's population...
, 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 18595 inhabitants in 2005. Despite its small size, it has a long educational and ecclesiastical history. One of Sweden's oldest high schools, Katedralskolan
Katedralskolan, Skara
Katedralskolan in Skara is one of Sweden's oldest Upper Secondary Schools. It was founded in 1641 at the initiative of the Diocese of Skara, and its bishop Jonas Magni Wexionensis, and was approved by Queen Christina on August 31 of the same year...
(cathedral school), is situated in Skara. When the new gymnasium was built in 1988, it kept the old name and the old school was named Djäkneskolan. (The word djäkne comes from diakon, meaning servant of the church.)
Geography
Skara is located by the E20European route E20
The European route E 20 is part of the United Nations International E-road network.It runs roughly west-east through Ireland, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia and finally Russia. The length is . The road is not continuous, at three points, a sea crossing is required. ...
motorway, about 130 kilometers northeast of Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
, in the centre of Västergötland.
The name Skara comes from Skåra or Skarv, which means score. It is believed to refer to the terrain
Terrain
Terrain, or land relief, is the vertical and horizontal dimension of land surface. When relief is described underwater, the term bathymetry is used...
.
History
According to local legend, Skara was founded in AD 988, making it one of the oldest cities of Sweden. It was one of only two cities in what was to become VästergötlandVästergötland
', English exonym: West Gothland, is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden , situated in the southwest of Sweden. In older English literature one may also encounter the Latinized version Westrogothia....
, the other being Lödöse
Lödöse
Lödöse is a locality situated in Lilla Edet Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 1,265 inhabitants in 2005...
. Skara was the location for the regional assembly, the Thing of all Geats
Thing of all Geats
The Thing of all Geats was the thing which was held from pre-historic times to the Middle Ages in Skara, Västergötland. Although its name suggests that it comprised all Geats, it concerned those living in Västergötland and Dalsland, and it is described in the Westrogothic law...
.
With the Christianization of Sweden
Christianization of Scandinavia
The Christianization of Scandinavia took place between the 8th and the 12th century. The realms of Scandinavia proper, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, established their own Archdioceses, responsible directly to the Pope, in 1104, 1154 and 1164, respectively...
, around 1000 AD, Skara became the seat for the bishop and a religious centre for the ensuing centuries. There have been bishops of Skara in an unbroken succession to this day.
Many important assemblies were held in Skara in medieval times. Examples include the important Swedish chancellor meeting in 1326. A meeting of Swedish, Danish and Norwegians in 1458, decided upon the later Kalmar Union
Kalmar Union
The Kalmar Union is a historiographical term meaning a series of personal unions that united the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway , and Sweden under a single monarch, though intermittently and with a population...
.
In the ensuing medieval centuries, monasteries
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
and other churches were completed in the town. The first monastery was for the Dominican order
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
, called the monastery of Saint Olaf, opened in 1234; the other was of the Franciscan order, known as Saint Catherine (or Katarina in Swedish), recorded in 1259.
The foundations of the Skara Cathedral
Skara Cathedral
Skara Cathedral is a church in the Swedish city of Skara. The cathedral is the seat for the bishop of the Church of Sweden Diocese of Skara....
are believed to stem from around 1050. The current cathedral was inaugurated in 1150, but findings during the last 50 years show it must be at least a century older. Its current appearance, however, stems from renovations in the 1880s by Helgo Zettervall
Helgo Zettervall
Helgo Nikolaus Zettervall, older spelling Zetterwall, was a Swedish architect and professor of the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts...
, who also renovated the Cathedral of Uppsala
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
.
Old age
Medieval artifacts have been found in or near the Skara cathedral. A chalice from bishop Adalvard the ElderAdalvard the Elder
Adalvard the Elder was a German clergyman. He was first the dean of Bremen, but he was sent to the diocese of Skara in Sweden, as bishop during the early 1060s. Adam of Bremen wrote well of him, and tells that he made missionary attempts in Värmland. In Skara Cathedral a chalice was found with the...
, dead in 1064, was found in his grave in the 18th century. For a while the Adalvardskalken was used in the Holy Communion.
Some 44 pages of a book containing texts and hymns of 11th-century Catholic rituals is held and exhibited by the Västergötland museum in Skara. The oldest book in Sweden, it was written between 1100-1150 by Skara monks.
Other ancient objects have been found during excavations of the monasteries and churches.
Education
There is a branch of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet) in Skara.Culture and attractions
There are several music and entertainment artists in Skara, giving it a notable spot among the cities. The Skara SommarlandSkara Sommarland
Skara Sommarland is a amusement park located 8km east of Skara. It was founded in 1984 by Swedish entrepreneur Bert Karlsson. The park attracts 350,000 visitors annually.-Former attractions:-External links:**...
is a popular amusement park
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
with a reputation well known throughout the nation. Most notable is its water park with water chutes, artificial rafts, etc.
The official museum of Västergötland
Västergötland
', English exonym: West Gothland, is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden , situated in the southwest of Sweden. In older English literature one may also encounter the Latinized version Westrogothia....
is in Skara.
External links
- Skara Tourist Office
- Skara - Official site Skara, in 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...
(in Swedish)