Östersund

Situated in idyllic nature, the central Swedish city of Östersund has about 50,000 inhabitants. Östersund, which belongs to the province of Jämtland, is mostly located on the eastern shore of Lake Storsjön. However, the city also includes part of the island of Fröson, which is opposite the lake shore. The island is connected to the mainland by bridges. On Fröson can be admired the northernmost rune stone in Sweden, Frösöstenen, built in the 11th century. The stone is a reminder of the island's former importance as the center of the entire region. The core city of Östersund is relatively young as an 18th century foundation. The large square in the center, Stortorget, indicates in its geometry the planned nature of the city's foundation. A special feature of Östersund's townscape is the particularly well-preserved ensemble of wooden houses in the central Storgatan, all dating from around 1885.

The pleasantly unagitated city, which also includes a university campus with about 10,000 students, can boast some cultural highlights such as the Museum of the Province of Jämtland and two dozen galleries. However, Östersund is best known for its importance as a winter sports resort and a passion spot for frahling lovers. Swedes as a whole are considered coffee fans, but Östersund is said to have the most cafés in the country in relation to its population.