Arboga

Arboga is a town in Västmanland. Arboga, with its well-preserved medieval character, is a beautiful and charming town. The ancient cobblestones of Västerlånggatan (the riverside street, lined with period wooden houses) have been trodden by the feet of many locals and travellers throughout the ages.

Understand

 * Kära Örebroare. Förlåt, Arboga.
 * "Dear people of Örebro. Sorry, Arboga." — King Carl XVI Gustaf, 1985, at the 550-year anniversary of Arboga Riksdag.

The town holds a prominent position in Swedish medieval history, and the country's first parliament (riksdag) was held here in 1435. Today, Arboga is a quiet town with a population of around 12,000.

An exciting period in Arboga’s history was when the Franciscan monks settled here during the 13th century; Gråbröderna (the grey brotherhood), as there were called, were known for participating in communities which they thought had the potential to expand and develop. This was true of Arboga and the town owes a lot to the work of the monks, e.g. the monastery they built which later became the church of the Holy Trinity in Arboga. The monks also tended to the poor and the sick, and taught reading skills to children. There are many stories of an old network of underground passages in which the monks could move around the town in secret. The monks stayed in Arboga until the 16th century, when King Gustav Vasa broke with the Roman Catholic Church, took over all the monasteries and drove the monks out of Sweden.

Arboga was an influential town during the middle ages; the Arboga River gave the town a trade route to Stockholm and the rest of the world. The iron ore trade was also an important commodity during Arboga’s history, where it was weighed and stored at Ladbron. Unfortunately the trade route was discontinued after construction was completed on the Hjälmarkanal (Hjälmar Canal), but then the new canal did have some positive effects on Arboga.

Arboga was also host to a number of important historical events including Engelbrekt’s first assembly of the Swedish parliament in 1435. The town was also a residence for monarchs – during the 16th century Gustav Vasa and his daughter, Cecilia, lived here. Cecilia later became Countess Cecilia of Arboga and lived in the church building Helge And, which later became the town hall and remains so today.



Get in
Direct trains from Stockholm Central Station.

Get around
The city is very small and is best seen by foot. You can park very close to the city centre, free of charge. But you can also go by car in the city center. To go to sights outside of the town you can go by car, bike or taxibus.

Do
Historical city walks and Jädersbruksdagarna (market, veteran vehicles, music & exhibits) are but a few of the events that draw a large audience.

Arboga’s rolling landscapes and close proximity to lakes and forests provide many opportunities for a wide range of thrilling outdoor activities.

There are several art galleries, many exiting boutiques, interesting shops and cosy cafés, all in the well-preserved heart of the medieval city center.

Events

 * Arboga is known for the Medieval Days in August
 * The Carneval, Kanalens Dag (canal event), Summer entertainment by the river

Eat
There are several nice restaurants in Arboga.

Drink
There are some nice pubs and restaurants in the beautiful medieval city center.

Sleep
There are several different housings if you want to stay over night. You can choose from hotels, B&Bs, motels, stay on a farm-living and hostels.