Karlstad

History

On Karlstad's largest islet, there was a place of counsel called Tingvalla in the medieval age, which had roots from the Viking Age before 1000 AD. It was also used as a market place.Karlstad was granted its city charter on March 5, 1584, by the Swedish Duke Charles, who would later be crowned King Charles IX of Sweden. The city derives its name from the King – Karlstad literally means Charles' city. The Duke also granted Karlstad the right as a governmental seat in the region, and gave it a substantial amount of land. The Duke built his own house in the city, which is referred to as Kungsgården (The King's Manor). Karlstad's Cathedral was built on the location Kungsgården in 1724–1730 by Christian Haller. Then most significant coup d'état in modern Swedish history had its beginning in Karlstad. During the night of 7 March 1809, major general Georg Adlersparre used a part of the western army that was stationed in Värmland to occupy Karlstad. From there, they officially proclaimed a revolution, and during 9 March, he and his soldiers began their march toward the capital to end the reign of king Gustav IV Adolf. Karlstad has suffered four major fires. Only the cathedral and a few houses remained after the last fire on July 2, 1865. Karlstad was thereafter rebuilt according to a grid pattern with wide streets surrounded by trees. In 1905, the agreement to dissolve the union between Norway and Sweden was negotiated and signed in Karlstad.

Most-observed species

• Goldcrest

  Regulus regulus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  14,755
• Common Redpoll

  Acanthis flammea (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  7,840
• Great Tit

  Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  5,423
• Eurasian Blue Tit

  Cyanistes caeruleus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,860
• European Robin

  Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,814
• Eurasian Wren

  Troglodytes troglodytes (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,251
• Willow Warbler

  Phylloscopus trochilus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,793
• Graylag Goose

  Anser anser (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,644

Most recent

• M 2.8 — 2018-06-23
  2 km SW of Götene, Sweden