Örebro

Örebro [œrəˈbruː] is a city, the seat of Örebro Municipality and the capital of Örebro County in Sweden with 107,038 inhabitants in 2010.

Örebro received its Royal Charter and city privileges not later than 1404.

Örebro literally means a bridge over gravel banks, which is how the geography looks, with the stream Svartån draining into the lake Hjälmaren. The location became a natural seat of commerce in the (Scandinavian) medieval time, and is mentioned in print in the 13th century. Old buildings from the early days include the foundations of the city church, a building which has undergone several modifications. The natural center of the city is otherwise the magnificent Örebro Castle, situated on an islet in the Svartån, and dividing the town into a northern and a southern part. This castle was constructed during the stewardship of Birger Jarl during the early 13th century and then modified and enlarged during the reign of King Gustav Vasa in the 1560s.

Notable events in Örebro's history include the national diet meeting at Örebro in 1810, where Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte was elected crown prince of Sweden.

Although a trade town, Örebro remained small until the second half of the 19th century, when it grew rapidly as a center of the national shoe-manufacturing industry (see: History of Närke).

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Vadstena Castle

Vadstena Castle (Swedish: Vadstena slott) is a former Royal Castle in Vadstena, the province of Östergötland, Sweden.

Vadstena Castle was originally built by King Gustav Vasa in 1545 as a fortress to protect Stockholm from enemies from the south. The fortress consisted of three smaller stone buildings facing the lake, Vättern, three 31 meter wide ramparts, a courtyard, a moat and four circular cannons turrets. The original ramparts were torn down in the 19th century and the present ramparts were inaugurated in 1999. The stone buildings later formed the ground floor of the castle.

The reconstruction from fortress into a castle began in the 1550s, when prince Magnus Vasa became Duke of Östergötland. Duke Magnus had a mental illness and was the only son of Gustav Vasa who didn't become king of Sweden. Magnus died in 1595 and is buried in the nearby Abbey Church.

In 1620 the castle construction was finished and all the kings of the House of Vasa up till then had led the construction. Since 1620, the castle has been very well-preserved, and is one of Sweden's best examples of Renaissance architecture. Vadstena Castle was a royal palace until 1716, when the royal family lost interest in it; after which it became a storage for grain.

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Hotel coldest: Icehotel, Sweden

Icehotel is the coolest hotel in the world, because the buildings and rooms of this hotel was built using the ice and snow. The whole room is decorated with ornaments and statues of ice. Activities include guests traveling with snowmobiling, northern lights tours, and sled dogs.

The hotel has a restaurant, cafe, and bar / lounge. Guests will receive a free breakfast dish. Complimentary wireless Internet access available in public areas. Business facilities at this 3.0 star property include small meeting rooms and audio-visual equipment. With an additional fee, guests have access to the shuttle to the airport. Free guest parking. Event facility consists of exhibition space and meeting rooms / konferensi.Staf can offer wedding services, event catering, and tour assistance. Additional facilities include a sauna, a concierge desk, and multilingual staff. This is a smoke-free.

Icehotel has 60 guest rooms. Guest rooms have a television. Free access high speed wireless internet available. All rooms provide direct telephone and desk. All units are equipped with refrigerators and coffee / tea makers. Bathrooms feature showers with handheld shower and hair dryer. Additional amenities include irons / ironing boards, windows can be opened, and wake-up calls. Housekeeping is offered daily. Available Cribs (infant beds). All guest rooms at the Icehotel smoking rooms.

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