Welcome to Gävle!

City

About

Gästriklands storstad

Gävle is "Gästrikland County's large city" and residential city within the county. Gävle is located on the coast about 2 hours north of Stockholm and has about 92,000 inhabitants. Gävle is best known for "The Gävle Goat" and the elite hockey team, Brynäs. Whether you're just passing through Gävle, on vacation or on a conference, we have lots to do throughout the year. The distances are short and the selections are large.

City

Gävle

Gävle is a residential city the county of Gävleborgs with the University College, County Administration and the county hospital. Gävle belongs to Gästrikland and became a city in 1446. The provinces flower is the Lily of the Valley, the province animal is the Wood Grouse and the province fish is the Herring.

Princess Madeleine
Princess Madeleine is the Duchess of Gästrikland and Hälsingland, which Gävle is residential city. She has her own scholarship which is awarded in Equestrianism and is an honorary member of Gefle Student Union.
Princess Madeleine made his first official visit to Gävle on September 7, 2002. During her nearly seven-hour visit, Gävle showed up our best side with Furuviksparken (Park), University, Art Center and Concert Hall were on the program.

Source: www.gavle.se

History

Gävles historia

Gävles' oldest known city privileges was issued in 1446. The city is mentioned earlier, but nothing was written to suggest there was urban development before the 1400's. Good communications, fisheries, foreign trade in iron, livestock and wood products have played an important role in the city's development.

In the 1500s, Gävle was one of Sweden's major cities and ports. From the early 1600's, the castle became the residence for the stadtholder (Head of State) and the governor, then the city functioned as an administrative center. With "bottniska handelstvånget" (Bothnian Trade Coercion) in 1636, conditions deteriorated. Foreign trade and population growth stagnated.

The city regained "stapelrätten" (Control of Goods) in 1673, and towards the end of the century the economy turned. The positive developments in trade and industry was ongoing with recessions through 1700s . Gävle's famous shipbuilding industry goes back to the 1780s, but ancestry can be traced to the 1500s.

Gävle had 6,000 inhabitants in the late 1800s, and grew to 39,000 in the 1930s, which made it one of the top largest cities. Growth during the 1800s to 1900s had gone comparatively slow, and in 1980, Gävle was fifteenth among Sweden's urban areas (including suburbs).

Gävle was an important textile city in the early 1800s. Shipyard, snuff and tobacco, distilleries and textiles belonged to the more prominent industries. The industry continued to play a central role for the city's development. However, the textile industry had not been entirely beneficial.

Less expansion, activities such as food and textiles have been better represented in Gävle than in many other cities. Maritime transport, land transport and the county administration are other major trades which has shaped the city, and greatly influenced its development.

Source: http://www2.historia.su.se/urbanhistory/cybcity/stad/gavle/historia.htm

See and Do

Swimming

Borgvik havsbad - Bathing

Havsbad (Sea Bathing) with sandy beach. Owned and operated by the Baptist Parish. Dogs permitted on the site and beach, but not in the water.
Bönavägen, Bönan

Engeltofta havsbad - Bathing

Small bathing area on the sea with restaurant / summer hostel. Changing area and restrooms.

Engesbergs havsbad - Bathing

Engesberg is a bathing cove with grassy areas and sandy beach. Camping is available.
Engesbergs Camping & Stugby Solviksvägen 7, Gävle
+46 (0)26-990 25
info@engesbergscamping.se
www.engesbergs-camping.se

Fjärran Höjderbadet - Family Bathing Center

Family Pool: An oasis with champagne bubbles, water currents and water caves. You can swim out to the outdoor pools anytime during the year.

Wading: A pool for small children. From shallow to a maximum of 90 cm deep. Spray elephant, water currents, bubbles and water cannon. and an "easy" water slide.

Outside Pool: 50 m pool with 8 tracks. Large pool for swimming lessons. Children's pool and playground. Basketball, Volleyball, water gymnastics, badminton, Pétanque and much more.

Motion and competition pool: 25 m pool with 8 tracks. Trampoline.

Swimming Lessons: Swimming Pool (12 x 8m), with different water depths. Activities such as baby swimming, swimming school, water gymnastics, water aerobics and much more.

At Fjärran Höjderbadet we also have whirlpools, gym, exercise, solariums and serve food.
Lantmäterigatan 5, Gävle
+46 (0)26-600 500
www.gavle.se/fjarranhojder

Harnäsbadet - Swimming Society

Harnäs-Skutskärs Swimming Societies which is run by swimmers, parents and leaders.
Open during the summer - depending upon the weather. Jumping platforms are 3.5 m, 7.5 m and 10m. Trampoline 1 and 3 meters. Volleyball and large grassy area for tanning and playing. Kiosk with candy, soft drinks and ice cream. Coffee and sandwiches is also available. Grill area.
Harnäs, Furuvik
+46 (0)26-19 59 01
info@hss.nu

Hemlingbybadet - Bathing and Recreation

At Hemlingbystugans Recreation Area has pools and is popular for families with children.
We have 3 pools. One of these is a pools is directly connected to the Sauna. The other two (one is for children) are in the heated in the summer to about 23 degrees.
Hemlingby Friluftsområde, Gävle
+46 (0)26-51 70 15
info@hemlingby.nu
www.hemlingby.nu

Totrabadet - Bathing

Totrabadet in Hamrångefjärden, lake, sandy beaches, shallow water, sandy bottom, changing area, restrooms, dock.
One of Hamrångebygdens lakes has a long sandy beach and is perfect for families with young children. Tent area and caravan parks available for a maximum of 3 days.

Valbo Sport Center

Valbo at Sofiedalsskolan (School) is Valbo sports. Here is a large swimming facility with an outdoor 50 meter pool and diving platform. Indoors, there is a pool, 16.3 meters with a water slide for children. There is also a steam sauna and a wood heated sauna.
In the winter, it is very good for skiing. We have a gym with modern equipment, for individual training, or book per hour for groups. Instructors are available.
Valbo Sport Center can even offer you a massage.
Valbo Sportcentrum Fritidsvägen 6, 818 30 Valbo
+46 (0)26-13 11 66

Family Activities

Alborgen - Adventure House

If you want to solve exciting tasks that require creativity and the ability to cooperate - try adventures in Aalborg! Perfect for the family, kick-off's and other festive occasions. Perfect for rainy days, because everything is indoors.
The activities in Aalborg Adventure House are performed in groups of 3-5 persons and is designed to solve adventure problems of different themes. Just now, there are 45 different "Adventure Cells" with very different tasks in each. New cells are added and the existing are rebuilt from time to time.
Persborgsvägen 20, Valbo
+46 (0)26-13 13 00
info@alborgen.nu
www.alborgen.nu

Barnlandet - Children's World

A play world for children of all ages. Inside Café.
Open year round.
Södra Skeppsbron 30, Gävle
+46 (0)26-18 00 30

Furuvik

Beautifully situated on the coast, visit one of Sweden's largest animal and amusement parks.

The Animals
The park has about 70 species of animals and many of them you can get really, really close. Hike in the rain forest among snakes and pygmies, stroll over to Lemurlandet - and with a little luck, a curious lemur can jump on your shoulder. At the beautiful fädbodvallen, you can become friends with one of the many cute little animals. There is much to discover and learn in the animal world.

Did you know chimpanzees are our closest relative? Or that the orangoutang grows large cheek sacks? Come and see our great apes in Aplandskapet (Ape Land) - and the chimpanzee family with the playful young ones called " Manda" and "Magda" along with the orangoutang pair called "Igge" and "Nyong."

Amusement Park
Let it tickle in your stomach! Take a tour in the mountains and the Batman Rollercoaster, spin dizzy in a coffee cup or why not fly somewhere. Here - you feel like a child again. Do you want to rest from the merry-go-round for a while - try your luck among the lotteries and games.
Don't miss the show, Furuviksbarnen, which offers entertainment in Europe's only circus built from wood.
There is something here for all children, large and small.

The Park
Stroll around and just enjoy your surroundings. Furuviksparken is known for its greenery, splendid flowers and its stunning natural beauty due to its location directly by the sea. There are 16,000 plants planted each spring which create beautiful gardens. Look around, smell, enjoy, have a snack at Circus Restaurant or to Furuviksbrygga. If the sun gets to hot, take a dip in our pool.
Furuviksparken Dannemansvägen 4, Furuvik
+46 (0)26-17 73 00
info@furuvik.se
www.furuvik.se

Jungle City Lekland

In Jungle City Lekland the children jump, climb and bounce as much as they want. In the meantime, the adults enjoy a freshly brewed cup of coffee, freshly baked buns, cakes or a light lunch at "Leklandets djungelatmosfär." Jungle City Lekland is divided into two areas. One for the bigger kids with a Jungle Gym that has a slide, four trampolines, a inflatable castle and much more. The smaller section, for the younger kids, has a small Jungle Gym, a ball pool and a slide. The area is also filled with soft carpet and soft toys.
The children play under the supervision of their parents!
Kryddstigen 28, Gävle
+46 (0) 26-14 02 22
info@junglecitylekland.se
www.junglecitylekland.se

Fishing

Fishing Cottage

On Gavleåns southern shore, opposite the Holy Trefaldighetskyrkan (Church) is the fishing cottage. Free fishing with rod, casting or fly fishing.

Fishing in Gästrikland

On www.fiskegavleborg.se, you can search for your "dream fish" by clicking on a road, or the entire county, region or any of the county's municipalities. You will find information on various fishing areas which permit public fishing. The area offers fishing for pike-perch, pike, perch and trout. There area implanted fishing lakes "put and take" and several fishing associations support the implantation of fish.
By specifying your preferences among the different types of fish, service level and type of housing you prefer, the fiskevårdsområden (fishing association) can help meet your requests.
Good luck with your search and your fishing!
www.fiskegavleborg.se

Museum

Gävle Konstcentrum

Gävle Municipal Art Gallery offers temporary exhibitions of Swedish and International Contemporary Art. The Art Gallery is also responsible for the upcoming art in Gävle.
Since the beginning of the year, you can find the Art Gallery in the Silvanum building, a stone's throw away from the Concert Hall, and next to "Boulognerskogen." The Silvanum was inaugurated in 1961 and is one of Gävles most architecturally interesting buildings.
The Art Gallery, together with the University's education program for "Design and Wood Technology" and "Kafé Spegeln" (Cafe) has given what was once Skogsmuseum (Nature Museum) a new and exciting identity.
The Art Gallery has handicap facilities.
Open year round.
Gävle Konstcentrum Kungsbäcksvägen 32, Gävle
+46 (0)26-17 94 24
konstcentrum@gavle.se
www.gavle.se/konstcentrum

Länsmuseet Gävleborg

Gävleborg County Museum is one museum for the two provinces of Gästrikland and Hälsingland. The museum works with cultural history, art, architectural, care of the cultural landscape, archaeology and various cultural type of projects within the counties ten municipalities. More than 300 works from five centuries are displayed. See Gunnar Cyréns art and utility of steel, glass, silver and plastics and he is also the creator of the Nobel set.
In the museum is a cafe and even shop in the museums boutique.
Länsmuseet Gävleborg Södra Strandgatan 20, Gävle
+46 (0)26-65 56 00

Sveriges Fängelsemuseum

The prison in Gävle - one museum in two prisons!
In Gävleborgs former county and castle prison from 1732, the exhibition "Androm till skräck och varnagel" has been on display since the summer of -05.
You can be sure that visitors experience the Swedish criminal and penalization system through cruelty, degrading shame and corporal punishment as it was pilloried daily at the square or the execution places.
The arrested meet in the dark and wretched, face the powers before them, their sentences and feel their powerlessness. Elements of the opposition and freedom will lead you then to proceed to Gävleborgs former county prison from 1847, where the exhibition "Hotels Hamilton" is on display. Learn about the Swedish prisons from the 1800s up until today's correctional system. The exhibition shows you the time when one in Sweden compensated the public with imprisonment or forced labor, which meant 24 hour isolation from society and from each other.
The two prisons located next to each other and are next to Gävle Castle, on the south side of the Gavleån.
Open year round.
Sveriges Fängelsemuseum Hamiltongatan 3, Gävle
+46 (0)26-65 44 30
info@fangelsemuseet.se
www.fangelsemuseet.se

Sveriges Railway Museum

An excursion the whole family will like. Follow through Sweden's exciting railway history which goes back 150 years. Here you can feel the levers in the cab of a steam locomotive, admire the beautiful Royalty cars and look at a prisoner in the prison car.
Sveriges Järnvägsmuseum Rälsgatan 1, Gävle
+46 (0)26-14 46 15 |
jarnvagsmuseum@banverket.se
www.jarnvagsmuseum.se

Parks

Axmar Works and Melting House

Axmarbruk is located on the northern coast of Gästrike, close to the border of Hälsingland. The mill was founded in 1671, but was destroyed by Russian troops in 1721, but then built up again.

Grand Monuments
The melting house we see today, is from the 1860s. When it was built, it was a new ironworks with a blast furnace,a forge, and rolling mills - (was very modern during that time). However, the rapid evolution of technology in the late 1800s, made it outdated very quickly and in 1927, the mill was shutdown. In the 1940s, the melting house was used for awhile for tar manufacturing. Now, it remains as a stately monument from the ironworks time. Guided tours can be booked.

Walking in Herrgårdsparken (Park)
Also belonging to the Works, was a manor with a park and gazebo. The Manor was torn down in 1970, but you can still take walk in the park all year round. On the cape, at the mills dam, is a nice little gazebo in the Gothic Revival style.

Worth a Detour
An older coastal road passes Axmar Works. There is not much traffic and the Works is a good bit off the road - but it is well worth a detour to get here - at least visit the pleasant Axmarbrygga tavern, which is housed in one of stone warehouses at the harbor.
Open year round.

Boulognerskogen - Park

Boulognerskogen is one of the country's largest urban parks. During the summer, the park offers a variety of activities including; golf, concerts, music, cafes, free fishing, motion activity and theaters.
Boulognerskogen was planned as early as the mid-1800s and had romance as its model. Since then, the park continuously has been modernized throughout the years. Today, Boulognerskogen is a sculpted park with both open grassy areas, trees and a variety of water environments. Most recommended is the "Stadsträdgårdens" (City Garden) works, and Carl Milles "Five music geniuses."

Why not pack a lunch and eat it on one of the grassy lawns or visit the summer café and just enjoy.

Valls Hage - Botanical Garden

Skogsbotanisk (Botanical Garden) park is always open.
Valls Hage, a large botanical park with all of Sweden's common and rare trees.
The park is located on a peninsula in Gavleån about 2 km west of the city. It began in mid-70's by the "Skogshögskolan" (University).
With about 200 different species of trees, such as the "Paraplygran" (Umbrella Spruce) and a "lönnträd" (Maple Tree), which is the only specimen in Sweden. There are also approximately 300 species of forest herbs and rice. There is also a Rosarium (Rose Collection) in the park.
The park is open all day and offers good parking facilities.