Sundsvall

History

The town was chartered in 1621, and a first urban plan for Sundsvall was probably created by Olof Bure in 1642, less likely in 1623. It has a port by the Gulf of Bothnia, and is located 395 km north of Stockholm. The city has burned down and been rebuilt four times. The first time, in 1721, it was set on fire by the Russian army during the Russian Pillage of 1719-1721.

According to one historian, Swedish industrialism started in Sundsvall when the Tunadal sawmill bought a steam-engine driven saw in 1849. In the early 20th century Sundsvall was an even greater centre of forestry industry in Sweden than it is today. The first large Swedish strike was the "Sundsvall strike" in 1879. The industrial heritage makes social democrat and socialist sympathies more prevalent in the Sundsvall region than in Sweden as a whole.

In 1888 on 25 June, strong wind and dry conditions contributed to two city fires in Sweden on the same day. On this day both Umeå and Sundsvall caught fire. The Sundsvall fire was the largest in Sweden's history. It is presumed that the fire was caused by a spark from a steamship. After the fire, and unlike Umeå, the decision was to rebuild using stone. Sundsvall's centre was later nicknamed Stenstaden (the stone city). One advantage of the new construction was that within three years the town was arguing that it should be allowed reduced insurance as new rules had been brought in that applied to wooden towns. One disadvantage was that after the fire only the better off could afford to live in the centre.

Today Sundsvall is not only dominated by the pulp and paper industry and the aluminium production, but there are also banks, insurance companies, telecommunications administration and a number of large public data-processing centres such as the national social insurance board. One of the two campuses of Mid Sweden University (Mittuniversitetet) is located in the city (The other campus is in Östersund).

Climate

Sundsvall has a climate which is on the border between subarctic (Dfc) and cold humid continental (Dfb), leaning towards the latter in recent years. Temperatures are made significantly milder and regulated by the influence from the Gulf Stream. The weather station is located 20 kilometres (12 mi) to the north and somewhat further inland near Timrå, which renders that Sundsvall's urban centre is likely milder in terms of low temperatures by some degree.

Culture

Music

There is a professional orchestra named Nordiska Kammarorkestern (Nordic Chamber Ochestra), formed in 1990, which primarily plays modern pieces. Sundsvall is known for its tradition of choirs, and most notably those founded by Kjell Lönnå.

Other musicians from Sundsvall are Helen Sjöholm, Anna Stadling, Yohio, Gina Dirawi and the bands The Confusions, Garmarna, Supersci and Oh My!.

During 1987–2013, there was a summer music festival called Gatufesten. Starting in 2014 there's a new one called Hamnyran. There are two theatres and various musical venues. There is also a small guitar festival and a larger heavy metal festival every autumn called Nordfest. Sundsvall is also home to the unique festival Musikschlaget, which is a song contest for groups around Sweden with disabilities.

Sundsvall also hosted the final heat and second chance round 'finalkval' of Melodifestivalen 2026.

Art

The painter Bengt Lindström (1925-2008) had his studio in Essvik, south of the city.

Sundsvall's unofficial symbol is the dragon, and since 2003, lots of gentle-looking dragons can be seen in the city streets. Another fantasy animal associated with Sundsvall is the Skvader.

Literature

Famous writers from Sundsvall include Alfhild Agrell, Frida Stéenhoff and Lars Ahlin.

Since 2012, Sundsvall hosts the yearly Swedish Crime Fiction Festival (Svenska Deckarfestivalen).

Museums

The city museum is located in Kulturmagasinet, a complex of four former storage buildings that also houses the city library and venues.

Media

Sundsvalls Tidning, published since 1841, is now the only newspaper in Sundsvall.

Architecture

Sundsvall is renowned for the architecture of its old town, commonly referred to as Stenstan. The lavish buildings were erected after the devastating fire in 1888.

In 2017, the Swedish NGO Architectural Uprising declared Sundsvall the most beautiful city in Sweden.

Transport

The city is served by Sundsvall-Timrå Airport, historically and colloquially known as Midlanda. The airport provides direct flights to Stockholm which are operated by Scandinavian Airlines.

The city is also served by buses with local and city routes, the company operating the buses is Din tur

The E4 highway used to pass through the city, causing poor air quality. Since December 2014, it crosses the Bay of Sundsvall on the Sundsvall Bridge, bypassing the city.

Sport

NP3 Arena is the home arena for the football club GIF Sundsvall. Other major sport venues are Södra berget (skiing, tracks, biking and other open-air sports/activities), Gärdehov (ice and indoors) and Baldershov (many indoors and summer sports).

Current sport clubs

Alnö IF, association football

GIF Sundsvall, association football

IF Sundsvall Hockey, ice hockey

IFK Sundsvall, association football

Sundsvalls AIK (sv), wrestling

Sundsvalls DFF, association football

Kovlands IF, multi-sport alliance club

Kovlands Ishockeyförening, ice hockey

Selånger SK, multi-sport alliance club

Selånger FK, association football

Selånger SK Bandy, bandy

Sidsjö-Böle IF, association football

Sund IF, association football

Sundsvall Flames, American football

Njurunda MK, Motocross, Enduro and Trial

Former sport clubs

IBK Sundsvall, floorball (1986–2006)

Sundsvall Dragons, basketball