Varberg

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Varberg


image_caption = View of Varberg from Varberg Fortress
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Sweden
subdivision_type1 = Municipality
subdivision_name1 = Varberg Municipality
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Halland County
subdivision_type3 = Province
subdivision_name3 = Halland
established_title3 = Charter
established_date3 =
area_footnotes = cite web |title=Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km² 2000 och 2005 |publisher=Statistics Sweden |url=http://www.scb.se/statistik/MI/MI0810/2005A01B/T%E4torternami0810tab1.xls |format=xls |language=Swedish |accessdate=2008-05-15]
area_total_km2 = 13.16
population_as_of = 2005-12-31
population_footnotes =
population_total = 26,041
population_density_km2 = 1979
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd=57 |latm=07 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=12 |longm=13 |longs= |longEW=E
website =

Varberg is a city in the province of Halland on the Swedish west coast, situated at coord|57|07|N|12|13|E. It has a population of 26,041 inhabitants (2005), and is the seat of Varberg Municipality, Halland County with a total of 55,459 (2006).

Varberg and all of Halland has a great reputation for its typical 'west coast' sandy beaches. Just north of Varberg, the coast changes from the wide sandy beaches to the rocky terrain that leads on up into the Bohuslän archipelago. Varberg is a charming and popular summer resort and many people from industrial cities such as Borås are either moving to Varberg or holidaying there.

Geography

Varberg is located in a terrain of hills and plains. It is largely without trees and green areas, in its place are bald rocks and sand. The Swedish authoritative author and bishop Esaias Tegnér described it in 1826 as the least appealing place in Sweden, which has later been used in the marketing of Varberg. The sandy beaches are however very popular in the summer. Another main factor in Varberg is its natural surroundings. Just a 20 minute drive inland reveals a totally different landscape. Here you will be among an enchanting landscape rolling hills with lakes and forests in contrast to the flatter coastal areas.

History

A fortress called Varberg (at that time written "Wardbergh", "watch hill") was erected in the 1280-ies as a part of a chain of military establishments along the coast, and that time Danish territory. The old settlement "Getakärr" 1 km north of the fortress took in the middle of the 14th century a new name from the fortress. The town was moved 5 km northwards around the year 1400. It was destroyed in the beginng of the 17th century and rebuilt near the fortress. In 1645 Halland passed from Denmark to Sweden by the Treaty of Brömsebro for a period of 30 years. It had at that time about 600 inhabitants. The transfer was made permanent by the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658. The town was moved again after a fire in 1666, to the location were the city centre is today. The city was devastated by a huge fire in 1863 and was subsequently rebuilt with stone or brick houses. In 1890 the population figure had passed 4,000 and with industrialization it reached 8,500 in 1930. The local government reform of 1971 made Varberg the seat of the much larger Varberg Municipality, with a population of today almost 56,000 inhabitants. Although several houses were torn down in the 1970's, most of the city centre still remain intact.

Sights

Varberg's fortress is its most notable historical building, mostly because of its size as it has no architectural uniformity. It was first built as a castle in 1280, with new parts being built in successions.

Near Varberg there is the VLF transmitter Grimeton, an interesting radiotechnical facility and classified by UNESCO to be a World Cultural Heritage. It can be visited during the summer.

References

*Some material from
* [http://www2.historia.su.se/urbanhistory/cybcity/stad/varberg/befolkning.htm Cyber City]
*sv icon [http://runeberg.org/nfck/0339.html article "Varberg"] from Nordisk familjebok

External links

* [http://www.varberg.se/ Varberg Municipality] - Official site
* [http://www.lansmuseet.varberg.se/ Halland County Museum at Varberg] - Official site