Västerås - 1st November 2018

For All Saints vacation, we went to Västerås, one hundred kilometres from Stockholm, for a relaxing weekend in the countryside. For most of us, Västerås is the Ryanair hub for the UK and Western destinations. 

Gamla Västerås

However, we will soon learn that Västerås was, once upon a time, one of the most important city in Sweden!...

Västerås is one of the oldest city in Sweden and in Europe with has 120,000 inhabitants. The Gothic cathedral was built by Birger Jarl in 1271. Johannes Rudbeckius (1581–1646) was the bishop of Västerås until his death.  and created the first secondary school in 1623. Västerås is located along the river Svartån and the lake Mälaren. It became a very active economical centre during the middle-ages for the trade of wood, copper and iron. 

Västerås is the city of Bishop Rudbeckius. On the side of the cathedral is a statue of Carl Millés representing Rudbeckius. 

Statue of Rudbeckius by Carl Millés

Rudbeckius is famous for many improvement in the Swedish way of life. The Swedish Parliament was established in Västerås, which was the main city in Sweden at the time. Västerås developed the first network of bike lanes in Sweden in order to ensure safe and fast commuting for workers in the fifties.

Monument dedicated to bike lanes

Artistic representation of the Västerås cathedral in the middle-ages

Nave of the cathedral of Västerås

The 4500 pipe organ.

The organist

St John Baptist

Altar piece in the Northern side aisle

Altar piece in the choir

Jesus and the twelve apostles 

Old altar piece

Note the monkey on the back of the horse

The paintings below are attributed to Albertus Pictor. They were covered with white paint during the reformation.

On the way back, we stop in Anundshög.