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Sweden country area. Religious life in Sweden

The Kingdom of Sweden is the largest country in Scandinavia. Although Sweden is on the outskirts of Europe, it has never been a cultural province. Many famous architects worked on the appearance of its cities. But the main wealth of this country is its nature, which changes as you move from south to north, from the sandy shores of the Baltic with well-kept estates to harsh forests and rocks near the border with Norway. Sweden is busy cities and small villages, lakes and rapids of turbulent rivers, high mountains and skerries in the form of thousands of small islands. The unique diversity of nature appears in its pristine beauty in the Stockholm National Park with a unique flora and fauna.

Sweden is too diverse and rich in contrasts to express the impressions in one word. And there is nothing to be surprised at the differences between the southern part of Sweden, almost no different from the rest of continental Europe, and its north - snow-covered Lapland. Sweden has everything: lively cities, and placers of wooden houses, usually painted red, and reservoirs, sometimes fresh, sometimes salty, and stormy rapids rivers, and sleepy lakes. and islands, and skerries in the form of thousands and thousands of freckles on the surface of the sea, and high mountains, and lovely valleys.

Here are medieval castles, rune stones, thousands of Iron Age archeological monuments, one of the oldest universities. Sweden is the birthplace of the great storyteller Astrid Lindgren, the eccentric Carlson and the favorite of all the children of the world, Pippi Longstocking, live here.

Geography

Sweden is located in Northern Europe, in the eastern and southern parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula. Sweden borders Norway to the west, Finland to the northeast, and waters to the east and south. Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia. In the south, the Øresund, Kattegat and Skagerrak straits separate Sweden from Denmark. Sweden consists of two large islands in the Baltic - Gotland and Öland. The area of Sweden is 450 thousand square meters. km.

Time

Behind Moscow for 2 hours.

Climate

Moderate. The temperature in summer rarely rises above +22 C. In winter, the temperature does not fall below -16 C. Precipitation varies from 500-700 mm per year (on the plains) to 1500-2000 mm (in the mountains).

Language

Almost nine million people live in Sweden. Swedish is the only official language in Sweden. Scandinavian group Germanic languages.

Religion

Lutherans - 87%, others - 13%.

Population

The population is 8850000 people. Peoples: 90% Swedes, 3% Finns, 0.15% Sami - the indigenous inhabitants of Lapland.

Electricity

The voltage in the network is 220 Volts.

Emergency Phones

A single number for the police, fire brigade or ambulance: 9-00-00.

Connection

On the territory of the country there are GSM, MT 450 and NMT 900 standards of three operators - Europolitan, Tele2/Comviq and Telia Mobile. The cost of a call across the country between operators differs slightly and is about 5.5 kroons during the day, and in the evening and at night (from 19.00 to 7.00) and on weekends - about 2 kroons (plus the cost of a call is 40 ore). Cellular numbers begin with the numbers 450 and 900, a call to such phones is made directly, without dialing the area code or operator.

The telephone network is very developed and modern. From an ordinary public payphone, you can call anywhere in Sweden and to any country in the world. Pay phones are installed everywhere and work with phone cards (30, 60 and 100 kroons, sold at newspaper and tobacco kiosks, Telia offices and post offices) and regular credit cards. The cost of a call within the city is 1 kroon per minute plus 2 kroons for connection.

Currency exchange

Swedish krona, in one krone 100 øre, one US dollar is approximately equal to 10 Swedish kronor. Most of the banks in the country are open only on weekdays from 9.30 to 15.00, some banks in the center of Stockholm - from 9.00 to 17.30. Exchange offices are open seven days a week at airports, train stations, marinas, and main post offices. In some exchange offices, the cost of the service is expressed as a percentage of the exchange amount, in others a fixed fee for the operation is set, regardless of the amount. ATMs operate around the clock. They accept all major credit cards: American Express, Diner's Club, Eurocard, MasterCard, Visa. By the way, it is better to buy crowns in Moscow or St. Petersburg - it will cost you less than in Sweden.

Visa

To enter the country, you must have a passport and a visa (Schengen), obtained on the basis of an invitation. Consular fee of 25 US dollars. Russians with a stay of no more than 3 months are not subject to registration.

Customs regulations

Import of national and foreign currency is not limited. The export of foreign currency is not limited, national - no more than 6 thousand crowns in banknotes with a denomination of no more than 1 thousand crowns. You can get a partial VAT refund using the tax-free system on purchases of goods over $50. When buying, you must present your passport, and you will receive a special export check. Duty free you can import a liter of strong alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content of over 22 ° or two liters of strong wines with a strength of 15 ° to 22 °, two liters of wine up to 15 ° and two liters of beer, as well as 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 550 g of tobacco. Alcohol is allowed only for persons over 20 years of age, tobacco products - for persons over 18.
Prohibited for export are food products (with the exception of tea and coffee), animals and plants without special permits, drugs and doping agents, mobile phones that do not meet the requirements of the Swedish telephone network. Without a special permit, weapons, flammable and explosive substances, and art objects cannot be exported either.

Holidays and non-working days

January 1 - New Year
January 6 - Epiphany
April 13 - Good Friday
April 15 - Easter
May 1 - Labor Day
June 3 - Trinity
June 6 - Swedish Independence Day
November 1 - All Saints Day
December 24 - Christmas Eve
December 25-26 - Christmas

The "Water Festival", which is held for the seventh year in a row, is a grandiose event not only on the scale of Sweden, but of the whole of Northern Europe. The culmination of the festival is the "Duck Race": a swim of 40,000 numbered plastic ducks (Water-festa emblem). The owner of the winning bird receives a prize - "Volvo-850", which is awarded in the main hall of the Stockholm City Hall, where the king and queen arrive to the sound of fanfare.

Transport

Trains are the main mode of transport outside of major cities, they serve regional centers. The railway network is most developed in the southern part of Sweden, where most of the country's cities are concentrated. Bus service is well developed. Buses are the only mode of transport to reach remote parts of the country. SweBus express lines connect more than 1500 settlements. Bus fares are significantly lower than train fares. Swedish roads meet the highest standards, only the appearance of moose and reindeer on the roads at dusk and at night spoils them.

Ships ply between Stockholm and Gothenburg and the islands of the Stockholm archipelago. And steamboats on lakes such as Vättern, Siljan and Tonrnetesk in Lapland make cruises in the summer, which are very popular with the local population.

The main international airport Arlanda is located half an hour north of Stockholm. There are daily flights to most European countries. Most flights from North America and Asia usually land in Copenhagen, where you will have to transfer. Ferries operate rail and bus lines to travel to Denmark, Finland, Norway, Germany, Poland, Estonia and the UK and other European countries.

Tips

Hotel prices include service charges. Service in restaurants is included in the bill. Late evening fees are higher. Taxi drivers should not take tips.

The shops

Shops in Sweden do not have strictly defined days of the week and opening hours. As a rule, this is Monday - Friday from 9:30 to 18:00. Department stores and other large stores are usually open on Sundays, from 12:00 to 16:00. Grocery stores are open daily, usually until 20:00, and some even longer.

National cuisine

The Swedes traditionally use in their cooking mainly those products that can withstand long winter storage. Meals prepared by Swedish chefs are usually hearty, high in fat and sugar. For frying and stewing, the Swedes use pork fat (lard). Fish dishes are also popular. For example, it is customary for Swedes to start any feast with an appetizer with salted herring, followed by another fish. After fish dishes, it is customary to change plates and then move on to other dishes.

Surely everyone is familiar with the expression "buffet". In Swedish it sounds like "Smergasbrod". The history of this table is as follows: in ancient times, when the Swedes gathered guests for some reason, they naturally thought, first of all, about how to feed all the guests. And the guests, it should be noted, arrived from afar, from different villages scattered across the expanses of this large and sparsely populated country. In order not to keep them waiting for a long time, dishes were served that could last for several days: salted herring, salads of potatoes and boiled vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, cold meats and, of course, sandwiches. IN modern understanding buffet is a reception where a large number of guests are self-service. They usually eat standing up or sitting somewhere away from the table, so as not to interfere with other guests approaching the table.

Swedish cuisine includes a large number of fish dishes. These are salted herring, herring in mustard, in wine, with onions, herring fillet with white sauce, grilled or baked herring in the oven with lemon, herring in the Glasmestarsil marinade, as well as crustaceans, caviar, boiled sea pike "Lutfisk" and River fish. Fish dishes are complemented by salads of potatoes and boiled vegetables, hard-boiled eggs with various sauces, hearty soups such as beer soup "elebrad" or oyster soup "nasselsuppa-med-egg".

Meat specialties include the flaskrulader pork roll, the spicy easterband pork sausage, the renstek minced reindeer meat, the leverpastei, the large kottbullar dumplings, the Christmas ham and the unstekt alg roast elk. For dessert, pancakes, muffins, biscuits, pies (apple and blueberry with rhubarb are especially tasty) and cookies are served. From drinks, the Swedes prefer coffee and mineral water. Of the alcoholic drinks, punch and grog are popular.

Attractions and resorts

The main sights of Sweden, of course, can be seen in Stockholm- one of the most beautiful capitals of Northern Europe: the Maritime Museum, churches of the 13th century, the royal palace, the Knight's House of the 17th century, the Church of St. Nicholas of the 13th century, the National, Historical and Northern Museums. IN Uppsala and Lunde the cathedrals of the 12th century are well known; castles of the 16th century deserve special attention. Gripsholm, Vadstene and Kalmar. The main attractions of Sweden include the main city of the largest islands of gotland- Visby, which in the Middle Ages was an important trading center, and today it is known as the city of "ruins and roses", which has preserved 92 church towers. You can also visit the second largest island in Sweden - Öland, connected to the mainland by a modern bridge. Stockholm is the residence of the king and a major trading port in the Baltic.

Legendary Northern Territory - Lapland, belongs to Finland, Norway, Russia (in the west of the Kola Peninsula) and Sweden. The nature of Lapland is not only forests and snow-covered plains. This is a land of picturesque nature, which is carefully protected in numerous National parks. The most famous national parks of this region are Abisko, Padyelanta, Muddus, Sarek. The parks of Padjelanta and Sarek are the largest in Sweden, each with an area of more than 200,000 hectares, of which 90% are occupied by mountains. There are about 400 species of plants in Padielanta National Park, as well as big variety animals, which is not typical for mountainous regions. national park Sarek presents more than 200 mountains to tourists, the height of which exceeds 1800 m. 13 of the highest points in the country are located here. For lovers of hiking, Sarek is ideal, but its trails are very difficult and close to climbing, especially since there are no campsites in Sarek, so experienced tourists are recommended to visit it. Here you can meet such animals as bears, lynxes, wolverines, elks. In Abisko National Park, there is a deep crevasse that rises up from Lake Thornetrask. This place is one of the most popular for "winter" tourists who want to see the northern lights with their own eyes. Muddus National Park is almost entirely occupied by dense forests and swamps, and the swamps around Lake Muddusjärvi are home to a large number of bird species. In the summer in Lapland, white nights are observed for 100 days, that is, the Sun does not set below the horizon, and in winter the polar night sets in for three whole months. It is during this season of the year that you can see the northern lights.

Sweden's northernmost city is Kiruna, it is located beyond the Arctic Circle and is often called the "city of white nights". The Kiruna Samgard Museum with an exposition dedicated to the culture of the Sami people and the Kiruna Church are of interest here. The church was built in 1912. The free-standing bell tower in front is supported by buttresses and the tombstone of the founder of Kirun. Above the main door of the church is a relief dedicated to a group of Sami under the clouds in the sky. In 2001 the church was recognized as the most beautiful building in Sweden.

IN Gothenburg there are 16 museums, among which the most interesting are the City Museum, the Art Museum, the Ethnographic Museum, the Ross Museum (the only museum of art crafts and design in Sweden), the Museum of the History of Medicine, the Museum of Banking, the Observatory, the Museum military history"Skansen kronan", Science Museum "Experimentum", Museum of Natural History and Museum of Navigation "Sjofarhistoriska Museum". Sweden's largest botanical garden is located in Gothenburg, with more than 12,000 species of plants, flowers, herbaceous and forest plants from all over the world. From Gothenburg, the famous Göta Canal begins, which ends in the vicinity of the city of Söderköping and connects the Kattegat and the Gulf of Bothnia. The construction of the canal began in 1810 and ended a quarter of a century later. The channel is laid through a variety of landscapes and passes through the Vanern Lake. A boat trip on the Göta Canal is considered one of the main excursions in Sweden.

In the very south of Sweden in the resort region of Skåne is the city Malmö. Tourists will be amazed by the variety of museums in the city, the largest of which are the Museum of History and Art and the Art Museum with an excellent collection of paintings by Russian artists. Also interesting gothic church St. Petrichiurka, built in 1319; Renaissance Town Hall (1546) and Malmehus Castle (1542). The central square of Malmö Lilla Torg is very beautiful, it is paved with cobblestones and surrounded by buildings of the 16th-18th centuries. In the very center of the city there are many parks where you can walk and relax. Through the Öresund Strait, Malmö is connected by a bridge to Copenhagen.

The religious capital of the country - ancient city Lund. This status is confirmed by the Romanesque Cathedral, the remains of the ancient church Drottens Churcheryun, the estate of St. Maria Minor and the Renaissance royal palace. The Lund Cathedral was built in the Romanesque style, the towers of the cathedral are 55 meters high. Its interior is made of sandstone. Under the cathedral is a chapel and ornate carvings.

ski resort Ore consists of four villages: Duved, Tegefjall, Are By and Are Bjornen- and five ski areas: Duved (Duved), Tegefjell (Tegefjall), Ope-By (Are By), Ore-Bjornen (Are Bjornen) and Rodkulle (Rodkulle). All villages are interconnected by bus routes. Regardless of which village the tourist settled in, he can ski on the territory of the entire Ore complex. Ore meets all world requirements for a high-level ski resort. For the highest specifications it is often referred to as the "Scandinavian Alps". It has already hosted the Alpine Skiing World Cup three times (and one of them is the final one), and in 2007 the World Cup in this sport is scheduled. Are has the best ski lift system in Northern Europe, 100 km of slopes, 900 meters elevation difference (374-1274) and guaranteed snow from November to May.

Sweden or Kingdom of Sweden- a state in Northern Europe, located in the eastern and southern parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

In terms of area (449,964 km²), Sweden ranks third among the countries of Western Europe and fifth among the countries of all of Europe. In the west, Sweden borders on Norway (the length of the border is 1619 km), in the northeast - on Finland (614 km), and from the east and south it is washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia. The total length of the borders is 2,333 km. In the south, the Øresund, Kattegat and Skagerrak straits separate Sweden from Denmark.

Sweden consists of two large islands in the Baltic - Gotland and Öland.

The highest point in Sweden is Mount Kebnekaise, 2111 m. Most of the country is covered with forests (53%), according to this indicator, Sweden ranks first in Europe. About 10% of the country is occupied by lakes. The largest of them - Vänern (5,545 sq. km) and Vättern (1,898 sq. km) - are located in the south of the country.

Climate in Sweden

The peculiarities of the location of the Scandinavian Mountains, which play a barrier role in relation to humid air masses coming from the Atlantic Ocean, as well as a significant meridional extent, make the climate of Sweden very diverse.

The climate in the southern and eastern parts of the country, thanks to the warm current of the Gulf Stream, is temperate, maritime, transitional to continental. The average temperature in January is from -15 °C to -3 °C, in July - from 10 °C to 17 °C. Humid maritime air masses from the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea often bring quite changeable weather with precipitation and winds, especially in the off-season.

In the north and east, in the mountainous regions of the country beyond the Arctic Circle, the climate is subarctic. In the mountains, the average January temperature reaches -14 ... -16 ° C, and in July from 6 ° C to 8 ° C. Most of this area is covered by glaciers.

Last changes: 26.04.2013

Population

The population of Sweden is 9,354,426 (2010). Life expectancy: men: 78.59 years, women: 83.26 years - 9th in the world. Urban population - 85%.

Despite the traditional predominance of Swedes in the population, modern population Sweden is quite racially and ethnically diverse due to a new wave of political and economic immigration from developing countries.

The population of the country is actually divided into two large groups: autochthonous and immigrant. Among the indigenous peoples, the Swedes and even more ancient inhabitants of the northern regions - the Finno-Ugric tribes (Finns and Saami) stand out. Ethnic Swedes are of German origin and make up about 7.5 million people. In addition to the Swedes, more than 17 thousand Saami live in the far north of Sweden. More than 50 thousand native Finns live along the border with Finland, which was once part of the Kingdom of Sweden, and in the central regions of the country there are over 450 thousand ethnic Finns who immigrated to the country during the 20th century, as well as their descendants.

At the same time, a significant Swedish minority (about 300 thousand people or 6% of the population) has been living in Finland itself for several centuries, historically more powerful than the Finnish in Sweden. Swedish is the second state language in Finland, but Finnish is used very limitedly in Sweden and has no official status at the state level.

Religion

The majority of the population of Sweden (82%) belongs to the Church of Sweden - the Lutheran church, separated from the state in 2000. There are also Catholics, Orthodox and Baptists. Part of the Saami profess animism.

As a result of immigration, numerous Muslim communities that profess Islam have appeared in the country.

The de facto language is Swedish, belonging to the group of Germanic languages (Scandinavian subgroup) of the Indo-European family, related to Norwegian and Danish, from which it differs in pronunciation and spelling. The country, however, does not have an official language - since Swedish occupies a dominant position, the question of recognizing it as official has never been raised. Most Swedes speak excellent English.

The recognized minority languages are Sami, Meänkieli, Finnish, Gypsy and Yiddish. The first three of them can be used in state and municipal institutions, courts, kindergartens and nursing homes in some parts of Norrbotten county.

Last changes: 04/26/2013

Currency

The country's monetary unit is the Swedish krona (SEK), equal to 100 øre. Banknotes are issued in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 kroons, as well as coins in denominations of 50 ere, 1, 5 and 10 kroons.

In Sweden, unlike most other countries, it is most profitable to exchange currency at exchange offices. Banks have a rather high fee, not the most favorable rate.

Major credit cards are accepted throughout Sweden at banks, hotels, shops, restaurants, taxis, car rental companies, to pay for railway and air tickets, as well as tickets for passenger ships. You can withdraw cash from Visa, MasterCard, Maestro or Cirrus cards at any ATM of the Bankomat or Minuten system. You can withdraw cash from your American Express card at currency exchange offices. FOREX systems.

Bank opening hours

Weekdays, except Thursday, from 10.00 to 15.00. Thursday from 10.00 to 16.00 or 17.30. In some cities, banks may be open until 18.00. All banks are closed on weekends and public holidays.

Last changes: 04/26/2013

Communication and communications

Phone code: 46

Internet domain: .se

Firefighters, police or ambulance: 112

Phone codes of cities

Stockholm - 8, Gothenburg - 31, Malmö - 40

How to call

To call from Russia to Sweden, you need to dial: 8 - dial tone - 10 - 46 - area code - subscriber number.

To call from Sweden to Russia, you need to dial: 00 - 7 - area code - subscriber number.

Fixed line

In Sweden, pay phones are common, accepting special telephone cards, as well as credit cards. Phone cards can be purchased almost anywhere, from newsstands and Pressbyrån kiosks to supermarkets.

mobile connection

Mobile phones are widely used in Sweden. You can connect to TeliaSonera, Tele2, and Telenor networks.

In the southern regions of Sweden, almost the entire territory is in the mobile coverage area, with the exception of a limited number of areas where reception is difficult. In northern Sweden, mobile communications are provided along the coast and main highways. Mobile phones cannot always be used in emergencies, because in the mountains, for example, there is no reception.

All operators offer the opportunity to buy prepaid mobile communication cards.

Post offices operate approximately the same hours as shops (from 9.00 to 18.00 on weekdays and from 10.00 to 13.00 on Saturdays), although some offices may have a different schedule. Stamps sold at all post offices and most kiosks selling printed matter.

In most localities of the country, postal services are also provided at grocery stores, tobacconists and petrol stations.

Last changes: 04/26/2013

Shopping in Sweden

In Sweden, it is worth buying glass and crystal products, as well as ceramics. If possible, you should definitely visit the Smålanda glass shops - Orreforse, Costa Bode.

Everywhere in Sweden, even in the smallest villages, you can find shops for handicrafts, knitwear, embroidery, wooden figurines. In Sweden, annual traditional fairs are held, which attract thousands of visitors.

The inscriptions REA, Fynd and Extrapris mean a discount.

Shop opening hours

Weekdays from 10.00 to 18.00. Saturday from 9.30 to 14.00 or 16.00. In large cities, department stores are open until 19.00 and later. Some shops are open on Sundays from 12.00 to 16.00. Grocery stores are open daily, usually until 20:00, and some even longer.

On the eve of public holidays, shops usually operate on a Saturday schedule.

VAT and tax-free

Persons residing outside the European Union (EU) are eligible for a tax refund on goods purchased in Sweden. In Sweden, as in most European countries, value added tax is included in the selling price of the goods indicated on the price tag. The duty-free system, organized by the Global Refund network, allows the tourist to receive a tax refund in cash at the time of departure from the EU. The tax refund on purchases is 12 - 17.5%, with a minimum purchase amount of 200 SEK.

When buying, you need to present your passport and ask for a special check for a tax refund (Global Refund Cheque). The goods will be given in a sealed package, which cannot be opened until an export permit is received. The goods must be exported from the country within three months from the date of purchase. When leaving Sweden or the last country of the itinerary within the European Union, a passport, goods in sealed packaging and tax refund checks must be presented, after which an export permit (stamp) can be obtained. They give permission for export and pay the checks presented by the tax refund office. They are available at the points of departure from Sweden, Finland and Norway, as well as at Copenhagen Airport.

Last changes: 04/26/2013

Where to stay

Hotels in Sweden do not have an official classification. All the "stars" that can be seen in the catalogs of operators and on travel sites reflect only the subjective assessment of their authors. Service in hotels of a good "European" level, the staff is very friendly, but somewhat slow.

Hotels and apartments in ski resorts are built in Alpine style, many apartments (90% of them with a sauna). World and Scandinavian "chains" are widespread in the country.

Swedish tourist houses or youth hostels

Swedish tourist homes are spread throughout the country, including the mountainous regions. They offer excellent amenities for low prices. Everyone is welcome here. More than 300 tourist houses are united by the Swedish Tourist Club. Members of this club or the Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF) may receive discounted accommodation.

The average price ranges from 100 to 200 CZK per night. For children, a 50% discount is provided, provided that the parents have an international youth hostel card or an appropriate other.

Many of the tourist camps are open all year round. Here you will be offered various options accommodation from simple cabins to fully equipped self catering cottages. It is possible to stay in youth hostels. It remains only to choose from the many smaller and larger campsites scattered throughout Sweden, the one that will appeal to you more than others.

Last changes: 04/26/2013

Sea and beaches

Malmö is the only major city in Northern Europe that boasts its own centrally located beach - and a very good one at that, having received the international Blue Flag award for its clear waters. This is the classic Ribbersborg beach, 2.5 km long, which is often called the "Scandinavian Copacabana".

On warm summer days, the beach is filled with sun worshipers, mostly families. There is a place for everyone on Ribbersborg Beach - there is a nudist beach, an area for dogs, and an equipped swimming area for the disabled. A local landmark leading to the classic cold bath, Ribbersborg Pier is one of several piers for swimmers who don't want to walk the shallow water halfway to Denmark.

In recent years, Ribbersborg Beach has been given stiff competition by a new deep-water sea bath in the new urban area of Västra hamnen (Western Harbor). The wooden decks, strewn with lounge chairs, are reminiscent of the Côte d'Azur. Here the people are usually younger and more stylish, people come here to meet friends, show themselves and fearlessly dive from high piers.

If you want to get out of Malmö, there are many fantastically beautiful beaches in these places, more than we can mention here, located within an hour's drive from the city. A beautiful beach in the stylish Skanör Falsterbo, a superb and cozy resort ideal for strolling, this is the closest of many classic beaches, some of which are about twenty minutes drive from Malmö city centre. In a 45 minute drive you can reach beaches longer and wider than you would ever expect to find in these latitudes, with sand so fine and clean it creaks under your feet. The beaches of Ljunghusen, Stenhammaren, Åhus, Stenshuvud in the famous National Park - the list of wonderful beaches in the province of Skåne is endless.

Last changes: 04/26/2013

History of Sweden

Primitive hunters and fishermen began to appear within present-day Sweden and move deeper and deeper north during the era of melting glaciers that had covered the Scandinavian Peninsula for many thousands of years. The earliest evidence of human presence on the territory of modern Sweden is a site found near Malmö and dates back to 8000 BC.

The settlements, where agriculture and cattle breeding were already the basis of human existence, belong to the late stone age(2500-1800 BC) Rock paintings, caves, burial mounds have been preserved from this time.

The Bronze Age (1800-500 BC) left evidence of trade relations with Central Europe and the British Isles, evidence of the high development of art and craft.

Iron Age, from the VI century. BC, marked by contacts with the Celts in Europe. Period from the 1st to the 6th centuries. AD Scandinavian historians call the Roman Iron Age. This is a time of close ties between Sweden and the Roman Empire.

Early Middle Ages (VI - IX centuries AD) - the period of formation of the Swedish state. According to the researchers, it was formed as a result of the fact that the Svei tribe, who lived on Lake Mälaren in Central Sweden (now the historical region of Svealand), conquered other local tribes, including the Getae, who inhabited the province of Gotaland, located to the south.

This is where the Viking campaigns began. Detachments of adventurers - merchants and sea robbers (in Scandinavian "Viking" - an inhabitant of the bays, trading in the bays), received the name "Normans" ("Northern people") in Western Europe, in Russia and Byzantium - "Varangians", in Finland - "ruotsi" (hence many researchers deduce the name of Russia, since the well-known princes in our homeland were precisely the Scandinavians - Rurik and his descendants), raided their neighbors who inhabited the southeastern coast of the Baltic Sea and the shores of the Gulf of Finland. VIII - X centuries. were a period of rapid expansion that led to colonization and the creation of a vast Viking domain.

From the Middle Ages, when a busy trade route "from the Varangians to the Greeks" developed, Russian-Swedish relations originate. The peaceful trade of neighboring states did not stop their stubborn struggle for the Baltic lands.

In 1240, the Swedes sent their fleet under the command of Jarl (Duke) Birger to the mouth of the Neva to capture Staraya Ladoga and Novgorod with its possessions, but were defeated by the squad of Prince Alexander Yaroslavich, who received the nickname Nevsky. By the end of the XIII century. The Swedish state subjugated the Finnish lands, the border with Russia passed along the Neva River. The city of Vyborg was founded (a Swedish fortress still towers over the city today).

This association, called the Kalmar Union, collapsed after a century and a half under the pressure of the active resistance of the Swedes. The nobleman Gustav Vasa (or Vasa), who proved himself in the struggle for independence, was elected king of Sweden in 1523. During his reign, the country became a strong unified monarchy. On his initiative in 1544; The traditional election of kings was abolished, and from that moment on, the crown could only be inherited.

Often in its history, Sweden has pursued an active military policy. The period of numerous wars with Russia and Denmark for dominance in the Baltic was a period of endless victories and defeats. The capture of the territory of Ingermanland, Estonia, Livonia, Poland, as well as part of German lands by the end of the 17th century. turned Sweden into a huge empire. Attempts to expand further led to its collapse. As a result of the complete defeat of the Swedes by Peter I near Poltava and the defeat in the Northern War of 1700-1721. Sweden lost its German possessions and gave Russia its Baltic provinces and Western Karelia, including the fortress of Vyborg. The Finnish war between Sweden and Russia (1808-1809) ended with the complete defeat of the Swedish army. Russia occupied not only all of Finland, but also part of Northern Sweden.

In the context of the outbreak of war between France and England, in order to maintain the neutrality that Sweden tried to adhere to after the conclusion of peace in 1809, and in order to avoid a war with Napoleon, the best political decision was to elect the king of the French marshal Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, who, according to some sources, was the adopted son of Charles XIII. He received the name Karl XIV Johan. A curiosity in the history and fate of the king himself is a discovery that shocked his contemporaries: after the death of Bernadotte, a poorly etched tattoo "Death to Kings" was found on his body.

Contrary to the hopes of the Swedes with his help to win back Finland from Russia, the new king went for rapprochement with Tsar Alexander I.

The last military operations of the Swedes were short wars with Denmark and Norway for the annexation of Norway to Sweden (Swedish-Norwegian Union - 1814-1905). Since 1814, Sweden did not participate in hostilities. During the First World War, Sweden declared neutrality, managing to maintain it during the Second.

In 1946 Sweden became a member of the UN.

In 1952 Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland formed the Nordic Council.

In 1995, Sweden became a full member of the European Union, thus declaring that the leading principle of neutrality in foreign policy was replaced by an orientation towards pan-European cooperation.

Last changes: 04/26/2013

The Swedish state is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of government. King Carl XVI Gustaf, as head of state, performs only ceremonial functions. The throne will be inherited by the eldest child of the royal family - Crown Princess Victoria. All political functions The administration of the state is entrusted to the unicameral Rigsdag parliament, in which about 50% of the deputies are women.

Swedish homeless Kurt Degerman left behind a fortune of more than a million dollars. The story took place in the town of Skelleftea. In local beggarly circles, Degerman was known by the nickname "Kurt the Tin." His life was no different from the lives of other homeless people. He ate the remnants of fast food, which he found in the garbage. That's where he found his clothes. Most of the time he collected cans of beer and other drinks, which he subsequently rented. Unlike other homeless people, Kurt did not spend the money he earned on alcohol and drugs, but kept it for investment. As it turned out after Degerman's death, he preferred to invest in the shares of the best companies in Sweden.

Kurt Degerman died of a heart attack in the fall of 2008 at the age of 60. Before that, he made a will in which he bequeathed all his property to a cousin who sometimes visited him. The Swedish press does not disclose the name of the relative.

When the will came into force, to the surprise of all Degerman's acquaintances, it turned out that after himself he left 8 million crowns ($1.1 million) as shares and other valuable papers in a Swiss bank account. In addition, Degerman kept 124 gold bars worth 2.6 million crowns ($300,000) in a safe deposit box. In addition, the homeless man had $6,500 in Skelleftea's bank account, while Degerman kept only about $450 in cash in his house.

According to the cousin of the deceased, he was able to become a financial genius by regularly reading newspapers. “He went to the library every day because he didn't buy any press,” Degerman's relative said. “There he read Swedish Business Daily and Dagens Industri – so he was thoroughly aware of the processes on the stock exchange.”

After Degerman's death, his cousin failed to inherit the beggar's entire fortune. The uncle of the deceased intervened in the case, who expressed interest in the relative only after he learned about his condition.

The man sued, challenging the soundness of the will. According to Uncle Degerman, he also has a right to the wealth of a beggar. The hearings lasted about 4 months, and as a result, in March, the parties came to an amicable agreement. How Degerman's money was divided is not reported, however, according to relatives, both parties were satisfied.

According to Degerman's family members, as a child he was very capable boy. Kurt was the first student in the class, and he was destined for a great future. However, due to a personal crisis, Degerman decided to leave society and ended up at the bottom of the social ladder.

Northern lights

In the northernmost region of Sweden, beyond the Arctic Circle, there is a fabulous land - Lapland. Lapland's light differences attract travelers from all over the world. In the summer beyond the Arctic Circle - 100 sunny nights. In other words, more than three months of continuous daylight without the slightest sign night. The phenomenon of the "midnight sun" is when, when looking north, the observer sees the very center of the sun directly in front of him. The light of the midnight sun gives the landscape a magical depth. At such a time, hiking on the mountain slopes of Lapland gives a truly unique experience.

The white nights show a completely different side in winter, when the sun leaves Lapland for three whole months and the polar darkness gives way to faint glimpses of light for only a few hours a day. It is at this time of the year that you can enjoy the northern lights (Aurora Borealis), restless rays against the dark purple polar sky. Many consider this spectacle to be the most picturesque and breathtaking light show in the world.

The northern lights are born when electrified particles at great speed enter the Earth's magnetic field, driven by solar wind. In this regard, the northern lights are most visible near the magnetic poles.

The northern lights last all year round, but you can only see them against the background of a dark winter sky. The visual drama of the Northern Lights gave rise to numerous myths and legends in ancient times.

In Lapland, the best time of the year to see the Northern Lights is mid-winter. The staff at Abisko Hill Station, one of the most popular northern lights spotting sites, "almost guarantees" its guests that they will see the phenomenon at least once every three days.

Last changes: 04/26/2013

Helpful information

Sweden occupies one of the first places in the world in terms of the quality of water treatment. Tap water in Sweden is clean and drinkable without boiling. Therefore, do not be surprised if you are served tap water in a bar or restaurant.

All public toilets(with the exception of the airport and some museums) are paid. The cost is usually 5 SEK. In some places, you should pay directly at the entrance to the toilet, in other establishments - only for using the cabin (in this case, there is a machine with the price indicated on the cabin door or next to it). Using the toilet in a restaurant or cafe is free only for customers of the institution, often it is simply locked. In this case, contact the service personnel.

Literally exemplary order is maintained on the streets, so you should absolutely not litter or throw garbage in the wrong place. Violation of cleanliness standards threatens with serious fines.

Fishing is not allowed everywhere. In lakes Vänern, Vättern, Mälaren and Elmaren you can fish for free, in other waters you need to obtain a special permit (“fiskekort”) from local information offices or sports shops. Fishing is strictly prohibited in privately owned water bodies.

You can not cross the borders of the reserves without special permission. It is strictly forbidden to walk on crops (including restorative forest plantations) and household plots, leave garbage on the road or near the house, damage buildings and nature, fell trees, break or saw branches on a fire (even if it is dry wood or brushwood), ruin bird nests, drive a car into the forest where there is no road, burn fires (even on rocky areas), wash cars in natural reservoirs, etc.

In a number of institutions (museums, theaters, etc.) it is forbidden to use cell phones (special signs at the entrance announce this).

In many grocery stores, banks, ticket offices, currency exchange offices, information bureaus, etc., coupon numbers are used to form a queue. Coupons are "issued" by special machines, usually mounted on the wall next to the counter. In order to use it, you just need to tear off the coupon and remember the number displayed on the scoreboard. The coupon is presented to the seller, and if the queue is accidentally skipped, a new coupon should be taken.

Smoking is prohibited in most indoor areas and transport. Hotels provide special non-smoking rooms. Since June 2005, smoking has been banned in all restaurants and cafes. Some establishments have closed smoking areas where it is forbidden to bring food and drinks into the territory.

Alcohol in Sweden is under strict state control. Wines and spirits with a strength of more than 2.8° and beer with a strength of more than 3.5° are sold only in special state stores "Systembolaget" (Systembolaget). The minimum age for the right to purchase liquor is 20 years. Restaurants and bars in Sweden must have a special permit to sell liquor.

Alcoholic drinks and cigarettes are very expensive, even by Swedish standards. A bottle of wine costs from 20 EUR and more. A pack of cigarettes - an average of about 5 EUR.

Last changes: 04/26/2013

How to get to Sweden

By plane

Aeroflot and SAS Scandinavian Airlines operate daily flights from Moscow to Stockholm (journey time 2 hours 10 minutes). SAS also flies 6 times a week from St. Petersburg (1 hour 30 minutes). STC "Rossiya" has 2 flights a week from St. Petersburg. A number of airlines offer flights with transfers in other European cities.

For a trip to the southern part of Sweden, it is better to use Copenhagen Airport (20 minutes by train to Malmö).

By train

There are no direct trains to Sweden from Russia, but you can travel by train from Finland (Helsinki or Turku), where you can transfer to the ferry to Stockholm. The whole journey from Moscow takes one and a half days, from St. Petersburg - a day. Trains to Sweden also run from Germany, Denmark and Norway.
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Attention! Transit visas for these countries are required.

By bus

One of the most economical options to get to Sweden is to use the Finland-Sweden organized group tour by bus from St. Petersburg. Such tours are organized daily by several major travel agencies. Such a tour usually involves leaving in the evening, crossing the border at night, arriving in Helsinki in the early morning, and a small excursion program. Next, the bus goes to Turku, where the group transfers to the ferry to the Swedish Kappelskør and, having arrived there in the early morning, leaves by bus for Stockholm (90 km). In the evening the group leaves back to Kappelsker and further to St. Petersburg. The tourist is free to leave the group at any stage and follow his own itinerary.

By car

You can drive to Sweden from Russia by car through Finland. To do this, you must have a "green card" (green card), a driver's license (for a temporary stay, a certificate and international law are not required), an international vehicle registration certificate or a power of attorney (if the vehicle belongs to another person).

Distances from Stockholm by road: to Moscow (excluding ferry crossing) - 1390 km, Oslo - 750 km, Copenhagen - 620 km, Hamburg - 920 km.

Last changes: 04/26/2013

Kingdom of Sweden

The name of the country comes from the Scandinavian svear-rige - "the state of the Svens."

Capital

Stockholm.

Square

Population

8875 thousand people

Kingdom Sweden occupies the eastern and southern parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula and the islands of Öland and Gotland in the Baltic Sea. In the west it borders on Norway, in the northeast - on Finland, in the east and south it is washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea, separating in the south from Denmark.

Administrative division

Sweden is divided into 24 counties.

Form of government

A constitutional monarchy.

head of state

supreme legislative body

Riksdag (unicameral parliament), elected for a term of 4 years.

Supreme executive body

Government.

Big cities

Gothenburg, Malmö.

Official language

Swedish.

Religion

95% are Lutherans.

Ethnic composition

91% - Swedes, 3% - Finns, 6% - Sami, Norwegians, Danes.

Currency

Swedish krona = 100 ore.

Climate

The climate in Sweden is temperate, transitional from maritime to continental, influenced by the Gulf Stream. In September or at the end of May, when the sun does not set, white nights come. The average January temperature is from 0°С to + 5°С in the south, from - 6°С to - 14°С in the north; July - respectively from + 10°С to + 17°С. The annual amount of precipitation is 1500-1700 mm (in the mountains), 700-800 mm (on the plains of the south), 300-600 mm (in the northeast).

Flora

Forests occupy about 57% of the country's territory. In the north, they are mostly coniferous (spruce and pine), and to the south they gradually turn into deciduous, where oak, maple, ash, beech and linden grow. About 15% of the territory is occupied by swamps.

Fauna

Representatives of the fauna of Sweden are not too diverse, but they are numerous. In Lapland you can meet herds of reindeer, in the forests there are elk, roe deer, squirrels, hares, foxes, martens, and in the northern taiga - lynxes, wolverines, brown bears. There are about 340 bird species and up to 160 fish species.

Rivers and lakes

Short full-flowing rivers - Dal-Elven, Tourne-Elv, etc. - with rapids and waterfalls. Lakes occupy about 10% of the country. The largest of them are Venern (the largest in Western Europe - 5.5 thousand km2), Mälaren, Elmaren.

Attractions

In Stockholm - the Maritime Museum, churches of the 13th century, the royal palace, the Knight's House of the 17th century, the church of St. Nicholas of the 13th century, the National, Historical, Northern museums; in Upsapa and Lund - cathedrals of the XII century; 16th century castles in Gripsholm, Vadsten and Kalmar, etc. Medieval Visby on the island of Gotland is known as a city of ruins and roses, 92 church towers have survived.

Useful information for tourists

Currency exchange is carried out in banks, exchange offices and post offices.
Normal store hours are from 10.00 to 18.00 on weekdays and from 10.00 to 15.00 on Saturday. Many shops are open on Sunday as well. Large department stores are open daily, but on Saturday, Sunday and holidays they have a shortened working day. In July, the “industrial holidays” begin (until mid-August), when all enterprises are closed, and institutions operate in an “economical” mode.

Useful data for tourists about Sweden, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, currency of Sweden, cuisine, features of visa and customs restrictions in Sweden.

Geography of Sweden

The Kingdom of Sweden is a state in Northern Europe, a member of the European Union and the Schengen Agreement. It borders on Norway and Finland. It is washed by the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia. In the south, the Øresund, Kattegat and Skagerrak straits separate Sweden from Denmark. Sweden consists of two large islands in the Baltic Sea - Gotland and Öland.

The relief of the country is elevated, the northwestern part of the country is mountainous (the highest point is Mount Kebnekaise, 2111 m) and is framed from the east by a vast plateau, in the south the relief is more even and abounds in rivers and lakes (almost 90 thousand reservoirs in the country). The coastline is heavily indented and replete with skerries and island groups.

State

State structure

A constitutional monarchy, in reality - a parliamentary democracy. The head of state is the king. The legislature is a unicameral parliament (Riksdag). The head of government is the prime minister.

Language

Official language: Swedish

English is widely accepted in the tourism industry.

Religion

The majority of the population are Lutherans, Protestants and representatives of other Christian denominations.

Currency

International name: SEK

The Swedish krona is equal to 100 øre. In circulation are banknotes in denominations of 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20 and 10 kroons and coins of 10, 5, 1 kroon and 50 er. From January 1, 2005, old Swedish kronas in 20, 100 or 500 kroner, as well as coins in 50 øre, are withdrawn from circulation.

characteristic feature is the universal rounding of prices to 0.5 crowns. Currency can be exchanged at exchange offices, as well as in hotels, large supermarkets, at the post office or in banks, but usually the rate there is somewhat lower, and the commission is higher than in exchange offices. In some exchange offices, the cost of the service is expressed as a percentage of the exchange amount ("commission"), in others a fixed fee for the transaction is set regardless of the amount ("fee"). The exchange rate and the amount of the commission should always be posted in front of the exchange office. Credit cards and travelers checks are accepted everywhere.

History of Sweden

The earliest evidence of human presence on the territory of modern Sweden is a site found near Malmö and dates back to 8000 BC. The Bronze Age (1800-500 BC) left evidence of trade relations with Central Europe and the British Isles, evidence of the high development of art and craft. Iron Age, from the VI century. BC, marked by contacts with the Celts in Europe. Period from the 1st to the 6th centuries. AD Scandinavian historians call the Roman Iron Age. This is a time of close ties between Sweden and the Roman Empire.

Around 800, the first Swedish city of Birka was founded on Lake Mälaren, which quickly became one of the major trading centers in the Baltic; trade links extended as far as Byzantium and the Arab Caliphate in the east and the Frankish state in the west. This is where the Viking campaigns began. Detachments of adventurers - merchants and sea robbers (in Scandinavian "Viking" - an inhabitant of the bays, trading in the bays), received the name "Normans" ("Northern people") in Western Europe, in Russia and Byzantium - "Varangians", in Finland - "ruotsi" (hence many researchers deduce the name of Russia, since the well-known princes in our homeland were precisely the Scandinavians - Rurik and his descendants), raided their neighbors who inhabited the southeastern coast of the Baltic Sea and the shores of the Gulf of Finland. VIII - X centuries. were a period of rapid expansion that led to colonization and the creation of a vast Viking domain.

By the middle of the XII century. Sweden became a single state under the rule of the king. Several rulers managed to replace each other before, as a result of the conquest of part of Sweden by the Danes in 1387, Queen Margarita of Denmark was on the throne. Since she was also the ruler of Norway, the three countries were united under the Danish crown. This association, called the Kalmar Union, collapsed after a century and a half under the pressure of the active resistance of the Swedes. The nobleman Gustav Vasa (or Vasa), who proved himself in the struggle for independence, was elected king of Sweden in 1523. During his reign, the country became a strong unified monarchy. On his initiative in 1544; The traditional election of kings was abolished, and from that moment on, the crown could only be inherited.

During the XVI - XVII centuries. Sweden led an active military policy. The period of numerous wars with Russia and Denmark for dominance in the Baltic was a period of endless victories and defeats. The capture of the territory of Ingermanland, Estonia, Livonia, Poland, as well as part of German lands by the end of the 17th century. turned Sweden into a huge empire. Attempts to expand further led to its collapse. As a result of the complete defeat of the Swedes by Peter I near Poltava and the defeat in the Northern War of 1700-1721. Sweden lost its German possessions and gave Russia its Baltic provinces and Western Karelia, including the fortress of Vyborg. The Finnish war between Sweden and Russia (1808-1809) ended with the complete defeat of the Swedish army. Russia occupied not only all of Finland, but also part of Northern Sweden.

In 1809, after the death of Charles XIII, who had no children, the reigning family of Goldstein-Gottorp, which was destined to become the last Swedish royal dynasty, ceased to exist. Sweden again faced the problem of choosing the heir to the throne. In the context of the outbreak of war between France and England, in order to maintain the neutrality that Sweden tried to adhere to after the conclusion of peace in 1809, and in order to avoid a war with Napoleon, the best political decision was to elect the king of the French marshal Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, who, according to some sources, was the adopted son of Charles XIII. He received the name Karl XIV Johan.

Contrary to the hopes of the Swedes with his help to win back Finland from Russia, the new king went to rapprochement with Tsar Alexander I. The last military actions of the Swedes were short wars with Denmark and Norway for the annexation of Norway to Sweden (Swedish-Norwegian Union - 1814-1905). Since 1814, Sweden did not participate in hostilities. During the First World War, Sweden declared neutrality, managing to maintain it during the Second.

In 1952 Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland formed the Nordic Council. In 1995, Sweden became a full member of the European Union, thus declaring that the leading principle of neutrality in foreign policy was replaced by an orientation towards pan-European cooperation.

Popular Attractions

Tourism in Sweden

Where to stay

In Sweden, you can stay in a hotel of one of the world's famous chains, as well as in a typical "Scandinavian" hotel. The classification of hotels is five-star, according to the principle adopted in the Baltic countries: hotels are certified on a voluntary basis.

It is worth noting that Sweden has the most expensive hotels in Europe. The most expensive are hotels located in ancient manors and palaces. Here you will be offered a truly royal holiday at quite appropriate prices. Such castles, as a rule, are located in a rural picturesque area, they have golf courses, magnificent gardens, elite restaurants and wine cellars. More affordable, but no less comfortable, will be accommodation in an estate or a noble estate. Another popular type of outdoor recreation is accommodation in one of the cottages or cottages.

For lovers of recreation on wheels in Sweden there are more than 750 campsites, one of the most comfortable in Europe. Campsites are rated from one to three stars; here you can stay both in a tent and in a rented house. Campsites often have restaurants, laundries, saunas, sports grounds, bike and boat rentals.

Hostels operate throughout Sweden, most of which are open during the summer or winter season. Many hostels include breakfast in the price. B&B hotels are usually a small rural house with rooms for guests.

Usually hotels in Sweden are as practical as possible and without any frills. However, all the details are carefully thought out, since the state also takes part in the operation of each hotel - this in a positive way affects the service.

Office Hours

Banks are open on weekdays from 9.30 am to 3 pm (sometimes until 6 pm), some banks in the center of Stockholm - from 9 am to 5.30 pm, but on Friday they close earlier. Exchange offices are open seven days a week at airports, train stations, marinas and post offices. ATMs operate around the clock.

Shops are open on weekdays from 10:00 to 18:00, on Saturdays from 10:00 to 16:00, on Sundays from 12:00 to 16:00.

Purchases

VAT on goods is 25%. You can get a partial refund of VAT (for tourists from countries outside the EU, it is 14%) using the "tax-free" system on purchases of goods over $50. To do this, when registering the goods, you must present a passport and receive a special export check. It is necessary to take out the purchase within 30 days from the date of purchase, while at the special office of the airport, upon presentation of a check and unpacked goods, a refund is issued (in some cases it is sent by bank transfer to the place of residence).

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