| Page Views: 817 Last Visit to Sigtuna: August, 2006 | Moscow-Sigtuna by Kuznetsov_Sergey - last update: Oct 11, 2006 |
The small Swedish city of Sigtuna has very rich and inconsistent history. For Russians, this city is especially interesting. I've found it out during our visiting Sigtuna in August 2006.
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|  | It is considered, that the city was established in 980 by King Erik Segersäll (Eric the Victorious). While other sources claim his son - King Olof Skötkonung as a founder of the city. Sigtuna - one of the oldest, and probably the oldest city in Sweden. Olof Skötkonung, minted Sweden's first coin there. From a small settlement the large city gradually grew and became the first Swedish capital. From 1000 the residence of bishop was settled down there.
More than 200 years Sigtuna was the largest shopping center of Sweden.
Sigtuna was rather favorably located on a coast of the lake Melaren connected by passage with the Baltic sea.
The central position in relation to the basic areas of Sweden transformed Sigtuna into the main port for foreign trade of the country. The old, trading ways laid by Normen connected coast of the lake of Melaren with the countries of east coasts of the Baltic sea: Finland, Estonia and rich Russian grounds, and with the countries laying to the south from the Baltic, - slavic Pomorze and Germany, and with located to the West Denmark.
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| | Sigtuna was, obviously, also an intermediary in trade between Russia and countries of Western Europe. The fact is well known, that in the XII century in this city there was significant enough layer of Russian population. It told us about sizes and value of trade with Russia in life of Sigtuna.
For Russians Sigtuna is remarkable by two circumstances. Its name is connected with well-known Ingigerda - a wife of the Grand duke of Kiev Jaroslav Mudry. The second circumstance is connected with well-known Sigtunian gate decorating the Cathedral of Sacred Sofia in Novgorod, and taken out of Sigtuna by Russian soldiers in 1187 after attack and destruction of the city.
That is why I consider my visiting to Sigtuna a significant event for me. |
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 Comments for Kuznetsov_Sergey about Sigtuna | | | | |
LoriPori Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:12 UTC
Lovely page on Sigtune. Especially enjoyed the story about Ingigerda. That "unusual goose" certainly looks like one of our native Canada Goose. Perhaps he was in Sweden on holiday! | JLBG Mon Apr 30, 2007 04:05 UTC
Excellent page, very informative. I was in Sigtuna some years ago for a scientific meeting but sadly enough have visited none of the great places you mention (short of free time)! Too bad! Your Sigtuna goose is Brenta Canadensis, the Canadian goose. | traveldave Sat Feb 24, 2007 14:40 UTC
I had never heard of Sigtuna, so I appreciated learning about this pretty town by reading your page. | matcrazy1 Wed Feb 21, 2007 08:31 UTC
It looks like a lovely town. Fascinating ruins and old history I didn't know. Nice picture of Sigtuna's goose. I also like houses in Storagatan and dog's training :-) |
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