Öregrund

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Öregrund cirka 1700, in Suecia antiqua et hodierna

Öregrund is a town in Östhammar Municipality in Uppland, eastern Sweden. It is situated by the coast of the Baltic Sea.

It has 1,500 inhabitants, making it one of the smallest towns with historical city status in Sweden.

1 History
2 Modern times
3 Sights
4 External links

[edit] History

The town was granted a royal charter in 1491, by request from citizens from nearby city of Östhammar. Östhammar had once been a coastal town, but due to land elevation its harbour had become useless. The royal council granted the request to construct a city at the end of the archipelago where the sea opened. It further proclaimed "the city shall forever by known as Öregrund". The small but expanding city soon became a point of conflict. In 1520 Christian II of Denmark conquered Stockholm. A young Gustav Eriksson tried to gather an army, and Öregrund became the port whereto ships with men and weapons were transported. As a countermeasure, the Danish King had the city burnt in the winter of 1520. And so, the citizens of Öregrund had to move back to Östhammar.

Not until 1555, when Gustav Eriksson had become King Gustav I of Sweden (Vasa) and stabilized the nation, where the citizens granted to recontstruct the city.

Fishing was basically the only industry through the centuries. The industrialization of the 19th century never got a stronghold of Öregrund; instead establishing themselves in the near Östhammar.

In the late 19th century a new industry prospered: the spas. People from outside bought up summer houses and made Öregrund their summerresidence. During this era several fine villas and gardens were built.

However, the summerresidents led to decreased tax incomes for the city with economical troubles. In 1968 it was forced to give up its city status, and merge itself into the city of Östhammar. Incidentally, in 1972, the Swedish muninipal reform abolished the administrative term "city" (stad), instead making Öregrund a part of Östhammar Municipality

[edit] Modern times

The nave of Öregrund is still the harbour. In modern times it is mainly used for small boats. In the summer if flourishes due to small sailboats and other pleasure boat. Boats also arrive from Stockholm, taking a trip from the Stockholm Archipelago.

[edit] Sights

Öregrund is one of Uppland's best kept wooden cities and attracts many visitors. Apart for the wooden houses, there is also a noteworthy stone church in the town center, and a town hall from the midth 19th century.