Växjö

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Växjö


image_caption =
pushpin_

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Sweden
subdivision_type1 = Municipality
subdivision_name1 = Växjö Municipality
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Kronoberg County
subdivision_type3 = Province
subdivision_name3 = Småland
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 = 29.29
population_as_of = 2005-12-31
population_footnotes =
population_total = 55,600
population_density_km2 = 1899
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd=56 |latm=53 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=14 |longm=47 |longs= |longEW=E
website

Växjö (pronounced|vɛkːɧøː) is a city in Småland in southern Sweden. Växjö is the seat of Växjö Municipality and is the administrative, cultural and industrial centre of Kronoberg County. Furthermore it is the episcopal see of the Diocese of Växjö.

History

The city's name is believed to be constructed by the words "väg" (road) and "sjö" (lake), meaning the road over the frozen Växjö Lake that farmers took in the winter to get to the marketplace that later became the city.

Växjö received its city charter in 1342, but was an important market and commercial centre already at the pass of the first millennium. In the 12th century the construction of Växjö Cathedral was begun and hence Växjö grew to become an important religious centre in the Diocese of Växjö. The city arms displays Saint Sigfrid, a national saint, wearing the traditional Catholic bishop outfit, and in his left hand holding a miniature of the Cathedral. Sigfrid allegedly lived and died in Växjö, and was buried in the cathedral at his death.

The religious significance led to the creation of other institutions such as Växjö Old Lyceum, one of Sweden's oldest educational institutions with Carolus Linnaeus, the father the biological classification, as one of its students.

Notable locations

Växjö University has 15,000 students (2008).

Industries include Alstom and Aerotech Telub. Växjö houses Sweden's National Glass Museum [http://www.smalandsmuseum.se/engelsk.html] and claims to be the capital of the "Kingdom of Crystal" [http://www.glasriket.se/Valkom/V_RamE.htm] as well as of the "Kingdom of Furniture" [http://www.lammhult.se] .

The Swedish Emigrant Institute [http://www.swemi.nu/eng/] was established in 1965 and resides in the House of Emigrants near the Växjö lake in the heart of the city. It contains archives, library, museum, and a research center relating to the emigration period between 1846 and 1930, when 1.3 million (or 20%) of the Swedish population emigrated, mainly to the USA. Archives, dating to the 17th century, of birth and death records as well as household records are available on microfiche.

Immediately north of Växjö is Kronoberg Castle, a ruined fortress constructed in the 15th century. This castle was used as base by rebel Nils Dacke during the Dacke War. The fortress has thick walls and an interesting array of artillery portals that face out onto the lake Helgasjön to the north. The city also holds another castle, Teleborg Castle built in 1900 and situated near the University.

Notable natives

*Joachim Björklund, footballer
*Jonas Björkman, tennis player with 50 doubles titles including Grand Slams
*Karl-Birger Blomdahl, 20th century music composer
*Martin Kellerman, a comic strip creator
*Carolina Klüft, track and field athlete and Olympic gold medalist at Athens 2004
*Pär Lagerkvist, author and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, 1951
*Otto Lindblad, 19th century music composer
*Carolus Linnaeus, botanist, physician and zoologist
*Christina Nilsson, 19th century soprano celebrity
*Thomas Ravelli, football goalkeeper
*Peder Sjögren, 20th century author and playwright
*Håkan Syrén, a military General and Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces
*Mats Wilander, tennis player with seven Grand Slam victories 1982–1988
*Björn Wirdheim, a racing driver
*The Ark, rock band

ister cities

Växjö has two sister cities.

* Almere, The Netherlands.
* flagicon|Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota USA

References

External links

* [http://www.vaxjo.se/ Växjö Municipality] – Official site
*sv icon [http://runeberg.org/nfcm/0257.html "Växjö" article] in Nordisk familjebok