Karlskrona

Naval Port of Karlskrona

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Criteria	Cultural: ii, iv
Reference	871
Inscription	1998 (22nd Session)

Karlskrona is a city in south-eastern Sweden. It is the seat of Karlskrona Municipality and of Blekinge County. Karlskrona is known as Sweden's only baroque city. Karlskrona is host to Sweden's only Naval base.

Geography

The city centre is located on the islet of Trossö. The islet of Stumholmen was formerly property of the Navy but today it houses a Naval Museum.

History

The city was founded in 1680 when the Royal Swedish Navy was relocated there. Its name is derived from King Charles XI of Sweden and means Charles's Crown.

Fredrikskyrkan in Karlskrona, at the market square

Heliga Trefaldighetskyrkan (Holy Trinity Church), or Tyska Kyrkan (The German Church), also at the market square

The buildings that were built at the foundation of Karlskrona in the 17th and early 18th century are still standing. Fredrikskyrkan was designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Younger, who was influenced by European architecture. The foundation of that church were laid in 1720, and it was inaugurated in 1744. It differs from usual Swedish churches in its yellow color and its adornment.

The church Heliga Trefaldighetskyrkan, also called The German Church, was built between 1697-1709, following Tessin's drawings. It is likewise located at the market square in the centre core. The dome-shaped roof takes its influence from Italian architecture and is rarely seen on Swedish churches.

The third city church is the Karlskrona Admiralty Church, built in 1685, in red-painted wood.

The shipyard in Karlskrona was established almost at the same time as the city. It was a necessity because of the heavy losses the Swedish Navy had suffered in 1689. In 1711, the shipyard was Sweden's largest industrial employer with 1,100 workers. In 1750, Karlskrona had about 10,000 inhabitants, a high number for a Swedish city at that time.

The city has also kept is street structure since its foundation.

The naval installations there has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In 1981 the Cold War-incident with the Soviet submarine U 137 occurred in the archipelago just outside Karlskrona. This triggered a serious situation between Sweden and the Soviet Union at the time.

Today

Most of the nightlife in Karlskrona is located around the street Ronnebygatan. As a result, Ronnebygatan has been reported as being one of the most dangerous streets in Sweden. All together though, the city Karlskrona is not a dangerous city to visit.

The most important day in Karlskrona is the day before midsummers eve. On that day a big fair takes place and attracts tens of thousands to visit Karlskrona. The fair is called Lövmarknaden - the Leaf fair - and is very popular among the locals.

Karlskrona's market place is the biggest in Scandinavia, and actually the second biggest in Europe, after the Red Square of Moscow.

Every year in late July/early August a popular festival called The Sail takes place in the harbor of Karlskrona. Usually it is a place where families go to have something to eat and drink, and perhaps watch the sailing boats lined up at the pier.

During the sail, the seascouts of Karlskrona will row a boat carrying torches along the docks while playing the national anthems for the visiting ships.

Nightlife

As is customary for most of Sweden, a typical night out on the town always starts with a house party first. Due to the high prices for liquor at the clubs, most swedes will get good and drunk before heading into town.

Once in town, the nightlife in Karlskrona has some choices compared to the neighboring cities (Ronneby, Karlshamn, etc):
Nivå is currently the hippest place to be seen. It has no cover charge, a higher minimum age, decent DJ's, and a really nice atmosphere. Many locals spend hours chatting with friends over drinks on the patio area. Busy on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights. The music is Euro Top-40, with some retro and R&B.

Playbar caters to a younger crowd, but features slightly less expensive drinks and two dancing rooms with different music selections. Sometimes busy on the weekends.

Stat/Fox & Anchor is a combo bar/restaurant and nightclub. Thursday and Saturday nights are the busiest nights here. On Saturday nights Stat has a special dance room that features Swedish Schlager music. This is a hit with many of the young 20-something females. If you know how to swing dance while heavily intoxicated, you will have fun here.

Piraten is the most interesting nightclub in Karlskrona. The youngest and oldest club goers are both seen here. The well dressed and attractive 20-somethings usually avoid this club. However, if you're into people watching, this club can be entertaining. The music is techno 80's trash.

Night	Where To Be
Wednesday	Nivå, or Piraten
Thursday	Swedish Karaoke at Fox and Anchor
Friday	Nivå or Piraten
Saturday	Stat, Nivå, or Piraten

Parishes

• Karlskrona City Parish (from 10 August 1680)
• Karlskrona German Parish (from 10 August 1680 to 1 November 1846)
• Karlskrona Prisoner's Parish (from 1808 to 4 July 1866)
• Karlskrona Mosaic Parish (around 1855 to 1910)
• Royal Karlskrona Admiralty Parish (from 1681, a non-territorial parish)

Education

• Blekinge Institute of Technology
• Hyper Island

See also

• U 137
• Swedish Coast Guard

External links

• Karlskrona Municipality - Official site
• Mitt Karlskrona Local news, weather forecast, events and TV-guide.
• The Naval City of Karlskrona
• The Naval Port of Karlskrona
• Template:Sv icon article Karlskrona (from online version of Nordisk familjebok)

56°11′N 15°39′E