In the city of Gothenburg, capital of the Västra Götaland County, Sweden

 "Your greatness is measured by your horizons." -- Michelangelo

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(on Sweden’s southwest coast) The city of Gothenburg, the second-largest in the country and the capital of the Västra Götaland County, is situated by the Kattegat (a sea area bounded by the Jutlandic peninsula in the west, the Danish Straits islands of Denmark and the Baltic Sea to the south). Gothenburg was founded as a heavily fortified, primarily Dutch, trading colony, by royal charter in 1621 by King Gustavus Adolphus. In addition to the generous privileges (e.g., tax relaxation) given to his Dutch allies from the ongoing Thirty Years' War, the king also attracted significant numbers of his German and Scottish allies to populate his only town on the western coast. At a strategic location at the mouth of the Göta älv, where Scandinavia's largest drainage basin enters the sea, the Port of Gothenburg is now the largest port in the Nordic countries.
+ Gothenburg is the quintessential "second city," understatedly hip and unexpectedly vibrant. Neoclassical architecture lines its tram-rattled streets, locals sun themselves beside canals, and there is always an interesting cultural or social event going on. The city is eminently walkable. From Centralstationen in the north, retail-centric Östra Hamngatan leads southeast across one of Gothenburg’s 17th-century canals, through verdant Kungsparken (King’s Park) to the city’s boutique and upscale bar-lined ‘Avenyn’ (Kungsportsavenyn) boulevard.

+ The waterfront abounds with all things nautical, from ships, aquariums and sea-related museums to fresh fish. To the west, the Vasastan, Haga, and Linné districts buzz with grassroots creativity and an appreciation for well-preserved history.

+ Gothenburg, Sweden’s main seaport, lies along the Göta River estuary, about 5 miles (8 km) above the river’s mouth in the Kattegat. Gothenburg is also home to many students; the city includes the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology. The city hosts the Gothia Cup, the world's largest youth football tournament, and the Göteborg Basketball Festival, Europe's largest youth basketball tournament, alongside some of the largest annual events in Scandinavia. The Gothenburg Film Festival, held in January since 1979, is the leading Scandinavian film festival, with over 155,000 visitors each year. In summer, a variety of music festivals are held in the city, including the popular Way Out West Festival.

+ Reminders of the past are Forts Lejonet (“Lion”) and Kronan (“Crown”) and the moat that still encircles the old part of the city. The 1633 cathedral (rebuilt 1815–25 and restored 1956–57) and the 1648 Kristine Church (rebuilt in 1780) are notable landmarks. There are cultural, maritime, and natural history museums. Among the larger parks are Slottskogen, the botanical gardens, and the “Garden Society” (Trädgårdsföreningen); Liseberg is an amusement park. The city is the seat of a state university and a technical university.