Borgholm | |
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Borgholm Castle in August 2006
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Coordinates: 56°52′45″N 16°39′21″E / 56.87917°N 16.65583°ECoordinates: 56°52′45″N 16°39′21″E / 56.87917°N 16.65583°E | |
Country | Sweden |
Province | Öland |
County | Kalmar County |
Municipality | Borgholm Municipality |
Founded | 1816 |
Area | |
• Total | 2.56 km2 (0.99 sq mi) |
Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) |
Population (31 December 2010) | |
• Total | 3,071 |
• Density | 1,201/km2 (3,110/sq mi) |
Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
• Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
Postal code | 387 xx |
Area code(s) | (+46) 485 |
Website | Official website |
Borgholm is a city and the seat of Borgholm Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden with 3,071 inhabitants in 2010. It is located on the island of Öland in the Baltic Sea.
Borgholm is one of Sweden's historical towns with a former city status (stad). The city is best known for its once-magnificent fortress which is now ruined. Borgholm is, despite its small population, for historical reasons normally still referred to as a city. Statistics Sweden, however, only counts localities with more than 10,000 inhabitants as cities.
The city is situated some 20 kilometres (12 miles) north of the Öland bridge which connects the island with the city of Kalmar on the mainland.
Borgholm is the main city of Öland, but remains one of the smallest cities in Sweden. The city received its charter in 1816 and emerged as a spa-town in the shadow of the ruins of the once mighty Borgholm Castle, which burned down in 1806. So important and magnificent was this castle, that it has become the city arms, and the ruins are the best known attraction in the municipality, perhaps on the entire island of Öland. Slightly further south is Halltorps Estate, a historic royal estate linked to Borgholm Castle.
The city serves as centre of northern Öland and is one of the most popular summer resorts in Sweden.
Borgholm Castle has its modern counterpart outside Borgholm. The Swedish Royal Family has its official summer residence at Solliden Palace a couple of kilometres outside the city centre. The Crown Princess Victoria's birthday is annually celebrated on July 14 at the Borgholm Sports Field.