Gävle
Encyclopedia
Gävle ˈjɛːvlə is a city
in Sweden
, the seat of Gävle Municipality
and the capital of Gävleborg County
. It had 71,033 inhabitants in 12/31 2010. It is the oldest city in the historical Norrland
(Sweden's Northern Lands), having received its charter
in 1446 from Christopher of Bavaria
.
and referring to the Gavleån
(Gävle River). The oldest settlement was called Gavle-ägarna, which means "Gavel-owners". This name was shortened to Gavle, then Gefle, and finally Gävle.
For a long time Gävle consisted solely of small, low, turf
or shingle
roofed wooden buildings. Boat-houses lined the banks of Gavleån, Lillån, and Islandsån. Until the 18th century the town was built, as was the practice then, around the three most important buildings: the church, the regional palace
, and the town hall.
Over the last 300 years Gävle has been ablaze on three different occasions. After the fire of 1776 the town was rebuilt with straight streets and rectangular city blocks. The number of stone and brick houses also started to increase. The biggest town fire occurred 1869, when out of a population of around 10,000 approximately 8,000
inhabitants lost their homes, and about 350 farm
s were destroyed. Almost the whole town north of Gavleån was burnt down. All the buildings south of Gavleån were saved. An area of the old town between the museum and the library has been preserved to this day as a historic reserve, Gamla Gefle.
After the catastrophe of the fire Gävle developed its characteristic grid plan with large esplanade
s and green areas. It is now a green town with wide avenues
. Stopping the spread of future town fires was the main idea behind this development.
An extensive redevelopment of the central town area was started during the 1950s. Around 1970 Gävle became a large urban
district when it was united with the nearby municipalities of Valbo
, Hamrånge, Hedesunda
, and Hille. New suburb
s like Stigslund, Sätra
, Andersberg, and Bomhus have grown up around the central city.
began in 1966. Stig Gavlén came up with the idea of placing a giant version of the traditional Swedish Christmas goat
of straw
in Slottstorget (Castle Square) in central Gävle. On 1 December the 13-metre tall, 7-metre long, 3 tonne goat was erected on the square. At midnight on New Year's Eve
, the goat went up in flames. The goat has since had a history of being burnt almost every year, 2005 being the 22nd time it was burnt. Burning the goat is an illegal act and not welcomed by most citizens of Gävle, but undoubtedly this is what has made the goat famous. In 2006 the goat was covered in a flame-resistant coating to prevent arson
, enabling the goat to remain standing throughout that winter.
near the mouth of the river Dalälven. At 60 degrees north and 17 degrees east, Gävle has the same latitude
as Helsinki
and the same longitude
as Vienna
and Cape Town
.
Gävle has a similar climate
to the rest of central Sweden
, with an average temperature of -5 °C in January and 17 °C (63 °F) in July. Yearly rainfall is around 600 mm (23.62 in).
from the port of Gävle increased markedly during the 15th century when copper
and iron
began to be exported from the port. In order to ensure that all trade was via Stockholm
, sailing to foreign ports from Gävle and a few other ports was forbidden.
During the 16th century, Gävle was one of the most important port and merchant towns with many shipping companies and shipyard
s.
In 1787 Gävle was awarded "free and unrestricted sailing rights" to and from foreign ports. This led to an increase in trade
, which in turn lead to an increase in buildings, industrial developments, trade and shipping.
Today there are few shipping companies or shipyard
s left, but an important port
remains. It has over 1000 ships calling per year and is among the top ten common ports in Sweden.
currently enrolls 12,500 students. It offers courses of study in six departments: Business Administration, Education
and Psychology
, Caring Sciences
and Sociology
, Humanities
and Social Sciences
, Mathematics
, Natural
and Computer Sciences
and Technology
, and Built Environment
.
Some courses are given in English
, taught both to visiting students from foreign partner institutions and to Swedish students.
called Gevalia
, produced by Kraft General Foods Scandinavia
and exported under multiple brand names. Gevalia is particularly popular in the Americas. Gevalia produces dozens of unique flavored coffees for the United States that are not available to its customers in Europe, but visitors to the factory can sample many of the premium blends. (Gevalia
is the Latin
name for Gävle); its Gävle goat
, the Läkerol throat lozenge
s and car-shaped sweets Ahlgrens Bilar
; and its ice hockey
team Brynäs IF
.
Due to large forest and pulp industries, many people perceive Gävle as occasionally smelling bad. In fact, when the local Coffee plant considered installing catalysts for its steam stacks, the community grew concerned that they would lose the smell of roasting coffee. The Gevalia coffee company installed the catalysts in a way that did not impact the pleasant smell.
Gävle has teams competing in the highest national league in both football (Gefle IF
) and ice hockey
(Brynäs IF
). Other sports clubs located in the town include:
Gävle is the hometown of young progressive rock band Beardfish
, who have released 6 albums and are signed to German label InsideOut Music
. They have recorded their 6th album, Mammoth, in this city.
In 2009, DJ Adam Beyer
was robbed while playing a set in Gävle. According to an announcement by Mr Beyer he was in Gävle with the intention of supporting the local scene but is now unsure if he will return to Gävle. Mr Beyer encouraged his fans to "Don´t let the dark side take over!".
The Road To Gävle
In 2009 the Danish Tina Dico
made an album named "The Road To Gävle", which is the soundtrack for a Danish movie, taking place in Gävle.
Young synth-pop band The Sound of Arrows
is from Gävle as well. They became very popular in Europe with their single "Into the Clouds".
Gävle is home to one of Scandinavias best dubstep-clubs, Gefle Dub. With regular visits from international superstars such as Flux Pavilion
, Datsik, Sukh Knight & P Money, Foreign Beggars etc.
. Malt
whisky
has been produced there since 1999.
Urban areas in Sweden
Urban area is a common English translation of the Swedish term tätort. The official term in English, used by Statistics Sweden, is, however, locality. There are 1,940 localities in Sweden . They could be compared with census-designated places in the United States.A tätort in Sweden has a minimum of...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, the seat of Gävle Municipality
Gävle Municipality
Gävle Municipality is a municipality in east central Sweden where the City Gävle is the municipal seat.Geographically the municipality is situated north of the mouth of the river Dalälven and is the southernmost municipality of the historical land of Norrland.The present municipality was created...
and the capital of Gävleborg County
Gävleborg County
Gävleborg County is a county or län on the Baltic Sea coast of Sweden. It borders to the counties of Uppsala, Västmanland, Dalarna, Jämtland and Västernorrland. The capital is Gävle.- Administration :...
. It had 71,033 inhabitants in 12/31 2010. It is the oldest city in the historical Norrland
Norrland
Norrland is one of the three lands of Sweden , the northern part, consisting of nine provinces. The term Norrland is not used for any administrative purpose, but it is common in everyday language, e.g...
(Sweden's Northern Lands), having received its charter
Charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
in 1446 from Christopher of Bavaria
Christopher of Bavaria
Christopher of Bavaria or Christopher the Bavarian; as king named Christopher ; Danish and Norwegian: Christoffer af/av Bayern; Swedish Kristofer av Bayern was union king of Denmark , Sweden and Norway .-Biography:He was probably born at Neumarkt in...
.
History
It is believed that the name Gävle derives from the word gavel, meaning river banks in Old SwedishOld Swedish
Old Swedish is the name for two separate stages of the Swedish language that were spoken in the Middle Ages: Early Old Swedish , spoken from around 1225 until 1375, and Late Old Swedish , spoken from 1375 until 1526.Old Swedish developed from Old East Norse, the eastern dialect of Old Norse...
and referring to the Gavleån
Gavleån
Gavleån, Gävleån or Gävle River is a watercourse in the middle Gästrikland of Sweden from Storsjön to Gävle Bay in the Bothnian Sea....
(Gävle River). The oldest settlement was called Gavle-ägarna, which means "Gavel-owners". This name was shortened to Gavle, then Gefle, and finally Gävle.
For a long time Gävle consisted solely of small, low, turf
Sod
Sod or turf is grass and the part of the soil beneath it held together by the roots, or a piece of thin material.The term sod may be used to mean turf grown and cut specifically for the establishment of lawns...
or shingle
Roof shingle
Roof shingles are a roof covering consisting of individual overlapping elements. These elements are typically flat rectangular shapes laid in rows from the bottom edge of the roof up, with each successive higher row overlapping the joints in the row below...
roofed wooden buildings. Boat-houses lined the banks of Gavleån, Lillån, and Islandsån. Until the 18th century the town was built, as was the practice then, around the three most important buildings: the church, the regional palace
Palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
, and the town hall.
Over the last 300 years Gävle has been ablaze on three different occasions. After the fire of 1776 the town was rebuilt with straight streets and rectangular city blocks. The number of stone and brick houses also started to increase. The biggest town fire occurred 1869, when out of a population of around 10,000 approximately 8,000
inhabitants lost their homes, and about 350 farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
s were destroyed. Almost the whole town north of Gavleån was burnt down. All the buildings south of Gavleån were saved. An area of the old town between the museum and the library has been preserved to this day as a historic reserve, Gamla Gefle.
After the catastrophe of the fire Gävle developed its characteristic grid plan with large esplanade
Esplanade
An esplanade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk. The original meaning of esplanade was a large, open, level area outside fortress or city walls to provide clear fields of fire for the fortress' guns...
s and green areas. It is now a green town with wide avenues
Avenue (landscape)
__notoc__In landscaping, an avenue or allée is traditionally a straight route with a line of trees or large shrubs running along each, which is used, as its French source venir indicates, to emphasize the "coming to," or arrival at a landscape or architectural feature...
. Stopping the spread of future town fires was the main idea behind this development.
An extensive redevelopment of the central town area was started during the 1950s. Around 1970 Gävle became a large urban
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
district when it was united with the nearby municipalities of Valbo
Valbo
Valbo is a locality situated in Gävle Municipality, Gävleborg County, Sweden with 6,911 inhabitants in 2005. It is situated south-west of Gävle itself and could be considered a suburb of the city....
, Hamrånge, Hedesunda
Hedesunda
Hedesunda is a locality and a parish situated in Gävle Municipality, Gävleborg County, Sweden with 1,048 inhabitants in 2005. It is a former municipality....
, and Hille. New suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
s like Stigslund, Sätra
Sätra
Sätra is a suburb of Stockholm, Sweden. It has its own Metro station.-See also:*Sätra metro station...
, Andersberg, and Bomhus have grown up around the central city.
Gävle goat
The history of the Gävle goatGävle goat
The Gävle Goat , located at Slottstorget in central Gävle, is a giant version of a traditional Swedish Yule Goat figure made of straw. It is erected each year over a period of two days by a local association called the Southern Merchants in time for the start of advent...
began in 1966. Stig Gavlén came up with the idea of placing a giant version of the traditional Swedish Christmas goat
Yule Goat
The Yule Goat is one of the oldest Scandinavian and Northern European Yule and Christmas symbols and traditions. Originally denoting the goat that was slaughtered during the Germanic pagan festival of Yule, "Yule Goat" now typically refers to a goat-figure made of straw...
of straw
Straw
Straw is an agricultural by-product, the dry stalks of cereal plants, after the grain and chaff have been removed. Straw makes up about half of the yield of cereal crops such as barley, oats, rice, rye and wheat. It has many uses, including fuel, livestock bedding and fodder, thatching and...
in Slottstorget (Castle Square) in central Gävle. On 1 December the 13-metre tall, 7-metre long, 3 tonne goat was erected on the square. At midnight on New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
, the goat went up in flames. The goat has since had a history of being burnt almost every year, 2005 being the 22nd time it was burnt. Burning the goat is an illegal act and not welcomed by most citizens of Gävle, but undoubtedly this is what has made the goat famous. In 2006 the goat was covered in a flame-resistant coating to prevent arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
, enabling the goat to remain standing throughout that winter.
Geography
Gävle is situated by the Baltic SeaBaltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
near the mouth of the river Dalälven. At 60 degrees north and 17 degrees east, Gävle has the same latitude
Latitude
In geography, the latitude of a location on the Earth is the angular distance of that location south or north of the Equator. The latitude is an angle, and is usually measured in degrees . The equator has a latitude of 0°, the North pole has a latitude of 90° north , and the South pole has a...
as Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
and the same longitude
Longitude
Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds, and denoted by the Greek letter lambda ....
as Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
.
Gävle has a similar climate
Climate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
to the rest of central Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, with an average temperature of -5 °C in January and 17 °C (63 °F) in July. Yearly rainfall is around 600 mm (23.62 in).
Economy
TradeTrade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
from the port of Gävle increased markedly during the 15th century when copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
and iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
began to be exported from the port. In order to ensure that all trade was via Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, sailing to foreign ports from Gävle and a few other ports was forbidden.
During the 16th century, Gävle was one of the most important port and merchant towns with many shipping companies and shipyard
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
s.
In 1787 Gävle was awarded "free and unrestricted sailing rights" to and from foreign ports. This led to an increase in trade
Trade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
, which in turn lead to an increase in buildings, industrial developments, trade and shipping.
Today there are few shipping companies or shipyard
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
s left, but an important port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
remains. It has over 1000 ships calling per year and is among the top ten common ports in Sweden.
Major companies
- Korsnäs (company) (forest industry)
- Stora Cell Industri (forest industry)
- Kraft General Foods ScandinaviaKraft FoodsKraft Foods Inc. is an American confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate. It markets many brands in more than 170 countries. 12 of its brands annually earn more than $1 billion worldwide: Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident, Tang...
(GevaliaGevaliaGevalia is the largest coffee roastery in Scandinavia. In North America, the company sells coffee and teas directly to consumers via home delivery. Customers order from a customer servicenter and a website that was relaunched in August 2009...
coffeeCoffeeCoffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
and spices) - Leaf AB (sweetsSweetSwas a Japanese idol group. Put together through auditions, the group debuted in 2003 on the avex trax label. Although the group met minor success, they disbanded after three years with the release of a final single in June 2006....
and confectioneryConfectioneryConfectionery is the set of food items that are rich in sugar, any one or type of which is called a confection. Modern usage may include substances rich in artificial sweeteners as well...
, carrying brands such as LäkerolLäkerolLäkerol is a Swedish brand of candies currently produced by the Leaf confectionery company.The candies are sugar- and calorie-free pastilles with the major ingredient being gum arabic. The candies are produced in a variety of flavors....
and AhlgrensAhlgrensAhlgrens is a former Swedish confectionery company. It was originally founded by Fredrik Ahlgren in the town of Gävle in 1885 as a store for paint and wallpaper, a business which was later extended to the production and sale of various types of chemicals, perfumes and other products...
) - Gävle Galvan (galvanizationGalvanizationGalvanization is the process of applying a protective zinc coating to steel or iron, in order to prevent rusting. The term is derived from the name of Italian scientist Luigi Galvani....
) - Gävle Stål (pre-fabricated steelSteelSteel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
construction) - Gävle Varv (pressure tanks)
- Cale Industri (parking meterParking meterA parking meter is a device used to collect money in exchange for the right to park a vehicle in a particular place for a limited amount of time. Parking meters can be used by municipalities as a tool for enforcing their integrated on-street parking policy, usually related to their traffic and...
s)
Education
The University College of GävleUniversity College of Gävle
Gävle University College is a university college located in Gävle, Sweden. It uses the name "University of Gävle" in English, although it is officially a 'University College'...
currently enrolls 12,500 students. It offers courses of study in six departments: Business Administration, Education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
and Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, Caring Sciences
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
and Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
, Humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
and Social Sciences
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
, Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, Natural
Natural science
The natural sciences are branches of science that seek to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world by using empirical and scientific methods...
and Computer Sciences
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
and Technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
, and Built Environment
Built environment
The term built environment refers to the human-made surroundings that provide the setting for human activity, ranging in scale from personal shelter and buildings to neighborhoods and cities that can often include their supporting infrastructure, such as water supply or energy networks.The built...
.
Some courses are given in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, taught both to visiting students from foreign partner institutions and to Swedish students.
Miscellaneous topics
Gävle is mostly known for the coffeeCoffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
called Gevalia
Gevalia
Gevalia is the largest coffee roastery in Scandinavia. In North America, the company sells coffee and teas directly to consumers via home delivery. Customers order from a customer servicenter and a website that was relaunched in August 2009...
, produced by Kraft General Foods Scandinavia
Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods Inc. is an American confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate. It markets many brands in more than 170 countries. 12 of its brands annually earn more than $1 billion worldwide: Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident, Tang...
and exported under multiple brand names. Gevalia is particularly popular in the Americas. Gevalia produces dozens of unique flavored coffees for the United States that are not available to its customers in Europe, but visitors to the factory can sample many of the premium blends. (Gevalia
Gevalia
Gevalia is the largest coffee roastery in Scandinavia. In North America, the company sells coffee and teas directly to consumers via home delivery. Customers order from a customer servicenter and a website that was relaunched in August 2009...
is the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
name for Gävle); its Gävle goat
Gävle goat
The Gävle Goat , located at Slottstorget in central Gävle, is a giant version of a traditional Swedish Yule Goat figure made of straw. It is erected each year over a period of two days by a local association called the Southern Merchants in time for the start of advent...
, the Läkerol throat lozenge
Throat lozenge
A throat lozenge, cough drop, troche, or cough sweet is a small, medicated tablet intended to be dissolved slowly in the mouth to temporarily stop coughs and lubricate and soothe irritated tissues of the throat , possibly from the common cold or influenza...
s and car-shaped sweets Ahlgrens Bilar
Ahlgrens
Ahlgrens is a former Swedish confectionery company. It was originally founded by Fredrik Ahlgren in the town of Gävle in 1885 as a store for paint and wallpaper, a business which was later extended to the production and sale of various types of chemicals, perfumes and other products...
; and its ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team Brynäs IF
Brynäs IF
Brynäs IF is a professional Swedish ice hockey team from Gävle. The club plays in the highest Swedish league , and has done so since 1960.-History:...
.
Due to large forest and pulp industries, many people perceive Gävle as occasionally smelling bad. In fact, when the local Coffee plant considered installing catalysts for its steam stacks, the community grew concerned that they would lose the smell of roasting coffee. The Gevalia coffee company installed the catalysts in a way that did not impact the pleasant smell.
Notable residents
- Andreas RudmanAndreas RudmanAndreas Rudman was a pioneer Swedish-American Lutheran minister. He was pastor of Gloria Dei Church and was appointed Suffragan bishop of the Lutheran Church in America.-Background:...
(1668–1708) Pioneer Swedish AmericanSwedish AmericanSwedish Americans are Americans of Swedish descent, especially the descendants of about 1.2 million immigrants from Sweden during 1885-1915. Most were Lutherans who affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ; some were Methodists...
Lutheran minister - Nils NorénNils NorénNils Norén, born circa 1967, is a chef and culinary educator based out of New York City where he holds the position of Vice President of Culinary and Pastry Arts at The French Culinary Institute. He also writes for the blog Cooking Issues, and he is a Contributing Authority for Food Arts magazine...
(chef) - Alexandra DahlströmAlexandra DahlströmLena Marina Alexandra Dahlström is a Swedish actress.-Career:Dahlström gained international attention in 1998, after starring as "Elin" in the film Show Me Love. For this, she won the Guldbagge Award for Best Actress, together with Rebecka Liljeberg...
(actress) - Christian EdstromChristian EdstromBjörn Christian Edstrom is a professional co-driver from New York, New York, United States. Most recently, Christian was a Subaru Rally Team USA member, co-driving for Travis Pastrana in car number 199....
(professional rally co-driver) - Anders EklundAnders EklundAnders Eklund was a Swedish boxer. He was nicknamed Lillen , but later chose the nickname "Viking"....
(boxer) - Joe HillJoe HillJoe Hill, born Joel Emmanuel Hägglund in Gävle , and also known as Joseph Hillström was a Swedish-American labor activist, songwriter, and member of the Industrial Workers of the World...
(labour activist) - Cat StevensCat StevensYusuf Islam , commonly known by his former stage name Cat Stevens, is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, educator, philanthropist, and prominent convert to Islam....
(musician) - his mother Ingrid Wickman was from Gävle, and he also lived here for some time during his childhood. - Joakim SundströmJoakim SundströmJoakim Sundström is a Swedish sound editor, sound designer and musician.Born in the Baltic city of Gävle in Sweden and brought up in Buchanan, Liberia on the West African Atlantic coast. He collaborates regularly with British director Michael Winterbottom. Married to British painter Dee Ferris....
, Swedish sound editor, sound designer and musician - Martin Burken Rickardsson (Travian player)
- Ewa Mataya LauranceEwa Mataya LauranceEwa Laurance is a Swedish–American professional pool player, most notably on the Women's Professional Billiard Association nine-ball tour, a sports writer, and more recently a sports commentator for ESPN...
(professional pool player) - Jacob MarkströmJacob MarkströmJacob Markström is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing with the Florida Panthers in the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
(player for the Rochester AmericansRochester AmericansThe Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial...
American Hockey LeagueAmerican Hockey LeagueThe American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
team) - Rolf LassgårdRolf LassgårdRolf Lassgård is a Swedish actor.-Biography:A keen amateur ice hockey player in his youth, Lassgård also joined theatre teacher Ingemar Lind's Institute for the Performing Arts in the village of Storhögen outside Östersund. He then attended the Stage School in Malmö from 1975-78...
(actor) - Åke Fridell (actor)
- Arthur Nilsson (1963–1993), Swedish-American artist and illustrator
- Fredrik Larsson Musician known on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- Thomas Di LevaThomas Di LevaThomas di Leva, birth name Sven Thomas Magnusson, is a Swedish singer-songwriter and a New Age-spokesman.-Biography:Sven Thomas Magnusson was born 1963 in Gävle...
(musician) - Victor DK Åsberg (all-star BO Spotter)
- Nicklas BäckströmNicklas BäckströmLars Nicklas Bäckström is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre and an alternate captain for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Early life:...
(player for the Washington CapitalsWashington CapitalsThe Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
NHL team) - Yat MalmgrenYat MalmgrenYat Malmgren was a Swedish dancer and acting teacher, born in Gävle, Sweden to Gustaf Sigurd Eriksson and Signe Emma Maria Malmgren....
(dance teacher at the Drama Centre London)
Sports
Gefle IF
Gefle IF is a Swedish football club located in Gävle. The club's name is the old spelling of the town Gävle. The club, formed 5 December 1882, is currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan. Gefle IF and Brynäs IF merged and played under the name Gefle IF/Brynäs between the 1979...
) and ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
(Brynäs IF
Brynäs IF
Brynäs IF is a professional Swedish ice hockey team from Gävle. The club plays in the highest Swedish league , and has done so since 1960.-History:...
). Other sports clubs located in the town include:
- BK Loke - a wrestling club
- Hille IFHille IFHille IF is a Swedish football club located in Gävle in Gävleborg County.-Background:Hille Idrottsförening were founded in 1922. The football section has around 500 active members, including a small league for 5-6 year olds, football school, boys and girls' teams, juniors, and two men's teams in...
- a football club - IK HugeIK HugeIK Huge is a Swedish football club located in Gävle in Gävleborg County.-Background:Idrottsklubben Huge is a sports club from the district of Bomhus in Gävle. The club was founded on 20 November 1927 through the merger of Kastets IF and Bomhus IK ...
- a football and ice-hockey club - Sjötulls BKSjötulls BKSjötulls BK is a Swedish football club located in Gävle in Gävleborg County. -Background:Sjötulls Bollklubb were founded in 2002 and played their first season in the Swedish football league in 2003 in Division 6 Gästrikland where they finished in a creditable 7th place...
- a football club - Strömsbro IFStrömsbro IFStrömsbro IF is a Swedish football club located in Gävle.-Background:Strömsbro IF currently plays in Division 4 Gestrikland which is the sixth tier of Swedish football. They play their home matches at the Testebovallens IP in Gävle....
- a football, bandy and ice-hockey club
Music
Gävle is known for being the cradle for many young musicians.Gävle is the hometown of young progressive rock band Beardfish
Beardfish (band)
Beardfish is a Swedish progressive rock band formed in 2001. Their style resembles progressive rock bands from the 1970s, such as Yes and Genesis. The band was signed by InsideOut Music after releasing two albums independently; they have since released three more albums.In 2008, the band toured...
, who have released 6 albums and are signed to German label InsideOut Music
InsideOut Music
Inside Out Music is a German independent record label based in Kleve, in the North Rhine-Westphalia region, and dedicated to the publication of progressive rock, progressive metal and related styles music albums.-History:...
. They have recorded their 6th album, Mammoth, in this city.
In 2009, DJ Adam Beyer
Adam Beyer
Adam Beyer is a Swedish techno producer and DJ. He is the founder of Drumcode Records, Truesoul Records, Code Red and Mad Eye Recordings...
was robbed while playing a set in Gävle. According to an announcement by Mr Beyer he was in Gävle with the intention of supporting the local scene but is now unsure if he will return to Gävle. Mr Beyer encouraged his fans to "Don´t let the dark side take over!".
The Road To Gävle
In 2009 the Danish Tina Dico
Tina Dico
Tina Dico is a singer and songwriter inspired by artists such as Tracy Chapman, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen.In Denmark she performs under her real name, Tina Dickow.- Beginnings :...
made an album named "The Road To Gävle", which is the soundtrack for a Danish movie, taking place in Gävle.
Young synth-pop band The Sound of Arrows
The Sound of Arrows
The Sound of Arrows is a Swedish electronic music group consisting of Oskar Gullstrand and Stefan Storm, both from Gävle, Sweden..The video to "Nova", their major label debut single, was premiered on influential music blog Popjustice on 21st February 2011...
is from Gävle as well. They became very popular in Europe with their single "Into the Clouds".
Gävle is home to one of Scandinavias best dubstep-clubs, Gefle Dub. With regular visits from international superstars such as Flux Pavilion
Flux Pavilion
Joshua Steele, known professionally as Flux Pavilion, is an English dubstep producer and DJ. He is the co-founder of Circus Records, along with Doctor P and DJ Swan-E. He is best known for his 2011 single "Bass Cannon", which peaked at number 56 on the UK Singles Chart, and was placed on the Radio...
, Datsik, Sukh Knight & P Money, Foreign Beggars etc.
Whisky
Mackmyra, a suburb of Gävle, is home to Mackmyra WhiskyMackmyra Whisky
Mackmyra Whisky is a Swedish whisky distillery founded in 1999 by eight classmates - alumni from Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. The new distillery is situated at the Mackmyra Bruk old facilities, in buildings that are landmark declared, and therefore only a minimum of additions and...
. Malt
Malt
Malt is germinated cereal grains that have been dried in a process known as "malting". The grains are made to germinate by soaking in water, and are then halted from germinating further by drying with hot air...
whisky
Whisky
Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn...
has been produced there since 1999.
See also
- International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships (1995)
- List of Gävleborg Governors
External links
- Gävle - Official site
- http://arbetarbladet.se/nyheter/gavle/1.1516045-over-94-000-invanare-i-gavle