Östergötland is one of the old core counties of Sweden, with five of its towns dating back to the Middle Ages. Östergötland has played a crucial role in the growth and development of the whole country. Sweden’s oldest dynasties originate from Östergötland. We have always had strong links with Europe. Today, we reinforce these links and add new values such as high-tech expertise and industrial products that reach the world over.
Östergötland’s cultural heritage includes some of Sweden’s most outstanding architecture from medieval times and later. There are historic monuments such as parish churches, castles and manor houses. Most prominent is Linköping Cathedral, one of the most lavish and well-preserved medieval cathedrals in Scandinavia. The Monastery Church in the town of Vadstena is built according to plans made by Saint Birgitta (Bridget) in the middle of the 14th century. Saint Birgitta is one of Europe’s patron saints.
The Rök Stone is a remarkable ancient monument. It bears the world’s longest runic inscription and was raised during the early Viking Age. In the western part of the county one finds well known tourist attractions such as the ruins of Alvastra monastery, which was founded in the 12th century by Cistercian monks. Even earlier is the monastery church of Vreta Kloster close to Linköping. Göta Canal is a gigantic man-made infrastructure project completed in 1832. Lakes and waterways with locks carry boats right across the country from the Baltic Sea to the North Sea. Göta Canal is the destination of more than one million visitors every year.
The landscape in Östergötland is widely varied. More than a thousand lakes, one of which is Lake Tåkern – northern Europe’s largest bird lake – make up an integral part of the landscape. Vättern, the fifth largest lake in Europe, is situated on the western border of the county and in the east the beautiful archipelago ties Östergötland to the Baltic Sea. The Oak District southeast of Linköping is one of Europe’s most important areas of oak, home to threatened species of plants and animals.