Skänninge
Encyclopedia
Skänninge is a locality
situated in Mjölby Municipality
, Östergötland County
, Sweden
with 3,242 inhabitants in 2005. It lies about 10 km north of the municipal seat Mjölby
.
Before the local government reform in 1971 the City of Skänninge was a municipal entity of its own.
Skänninge is, despite its small population, for historical reasons normally still referred to as a city. Statistics Sweden, however, only counts localities with more than 10,000 inhabitants as cities.
One of the older buildings is the Church of Our Lady, Sw. Vårfrukyrkan, constructed by the towns German population in honor of Virgin Mary. Apart from the church, the town also contains the remains of a monastery
of the Dominican order
.
In 1250, the reigning family of Folkung
had its main quarters near Skänninge, and the town developed into something of the Götaland
capital, and the market place became one of the richest and most attended in the country. However, in the 13th century, the nearby located city of Vadstena
surpassed it in interest. Furthermore, Skännige suffered fires in 1477 and 1466.
The annual Skänninge Market with its 1000 year old tradition is still being held in August every year, and visited by around 120,000 people.
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...
situated in Mjölby Municipality
Mjölby Municipality
Mjölby Municipality is a municipality in Östergötland County in southeast Sweden. Its seat is located in the city of Mjölby, with some 12,000 inhabitants....
, Östergötland County
Östergötland County
Östergötland County is a county or län in southeastern Sweden. It borders the counties of Kalmar to the southeast, Jönköping to the southwest, Västra Götaland to the west, Örebro to the northwest, Södermanland to the northeast, and the Baltic Sea to the east.Östergötland County has a population of...
, 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 3,242 inhabitants in 2005. It lies about 10 km north of the municipal seat Mjölby
Mjölby
Mjölby is a city and the seat of Mjölby Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden with 11,927 inhabitants in 2005.Mjölby is located by the rivulet Svartån. The name "Mjölby" is derived from "Mölloby", which comes from mylna or mölna -- meaning "mill"...
.
Before the local government reform in 1971 the City of Skänninge was a municipal entity of its own.
Skänninge is, despite its small population, for historical reasons normally still referred to as a city. Statistics Sweden, however, only counts localities with more than 10,000 inhabitants as cities.
History
Its history goes back to the 11th century, making it one of the oldest cities in Sweden. The town has changed little since then, and is still the same size with the same street structure. Many locations are recognizable since the Middle Ages.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...
of 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...
.
In 1250, the reigning family of Folkung
Folkung
In modern Swedish, Folkung has two meanings, which appear to be opposites:# The medieval "House of Bjelbo" in Sweden, which produced several Swedish statesmen and kings....
had its main quarters near Skänninge, and the town developed into something of the Götaland
Götaland
Götaland , Gothia, Gothland, Gothenland, Gautland or Geatland is one of three lands of Sweden and comprises provinces...
capital, and the market place became one of the richest and most attended in the country. However, in the 13th century, the nearby located city of Vadstena
Vadstena
Vadstena is a locality and the seat of Vadstena Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden, with 5,612 inhabitants in 2005. From 1974 to 1979 Vadstena was administered as part of Motala Municipality....
surpassed it in interest. Furthermore, Skännige suffered fires in 1477 and 1466.
The annual Skänninge Market with its 1000 year old tradition is still being held in August every year, and visited by around 120,000 people.
External links
- article Skänninge from 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...
- Skänninge - Den lilla staden med de stora minnena