Åmål

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Åmål


image_caption =
pushpin_

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Sweden
subdivision_type1 = Municipality
subdivision_name1 = Åmål Municipality
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Västra Götaland County
subdivision_type3 = Province
subdivision_name3 = Dalsland
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 = 7.58
population_as_of = 2005-12-31
population_footnotes =
population_total = 9,380
population_density_km2 = 1237
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd=59 |latm=03 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=12 |longm=42 |longs= |longEW=E
website =

Åmål (IPA-all|oːmoːl) is a town situated on the western shore of Lake Vänern in the traditional province of Dalsland, Sweden and the seat of Åmål Municipality, Västra Götaland County. The town has a population of about 9,400 out of a municipal total of 12,500.

In 2005 Åmål received second prize in the international competition, The International Awards for Liveable Communities (also known as the LivCom Awards). [ [http://www.livcomawards.com/ LivCom Awards ] ] A Blues Festival has been held annually in Åmål since 1992.

History

Åmål was founded in the 17th century by Queen Christina, and became one of the now defunct Cities of Sweden on april 1 1643, and the only city in the historical province of Dalsland. Its location close to the borders of the Denmark-Norway alliance made it vulnerable to attack and it accordingly suffered over the ensuing centuries: first in 1645, when it was almost completely demolished, again in 1676 and 1679; and the last time in 1788 when it was conquered by the Danes, who then held it for a short while.

The town suffered devastating fires in 1777, 1809, 1846 and 1901. After the last severe fire in 1901, whereby 1000 people became homeless, and one third of the city was burnt to the ground, it was rebuilt with wider streets and larger houses in a Jugend style of architecture. The area of wooden houses, the so-called Plantaget, south of the river, the Åmålsån, that runs through the town into the lake, was spared by the fire and today forms the "old town" area.

"Show Me Love" ("Åmål")

The 1998 movie "Show Me Love" (known as "Fucking Åmål" in Sweden), directed by Lukas Moodysson, is set in Åmål (but virtually the entire movie was actually shot in the nearby town of Trollhättan). The movie depicts the town as extremely boring and eventless.

References