Örebro, Närke Province, Sweden

🇸🇪 Örebro is the sixth-largest city in Sweden, the seat of Örebro Municipality, and capital of Örebro County. It is situated by the Närke Plain, near the lake Hjälmaren, a few km inland along the small river Svartån, and has a population of approximately 126,000 in the city proper. It is one of the largest inland hubs of the country, and a major logistic and commercial operating site.

Örebro is home to Örebro University, a major university hospital, a medieval castle, the water park Gustavsvik as well as several large shopping malls and the Oset and Rynningeviken Nature Reserve adjacent to lake Hjälmaren.

Örebro is served by Örebro Airport 10 km (6 mi) south-west of the city, and by Örebro Central Station, serviced by the Mälaren Line and Western Main Line.

Etymology The name Örebro refers to a bridge (bro) crossing the river Svartån where the city is located. The prefix Öre- is derived from ör 'gravel (bank)'.

History Örebro received its Royal Charter and city privileges not later than 1404.

The location became a natural seat of commerce in the Scandinavian Middle Ages and is mentioned in print in the 13th century. Old buildings from the early days include the foundations of the city church, a building which has undergone several modifications. The natural centre of the city is otherwise Örebro Castle, situated on an islet in the Svartån, and dividing the town into a northern and a southern part. This castle was constructed during the stewardship of Birger Jarl during the late 13th century and then modified and enlarged during the reign of King Gustav Vasa in the 1560s. The Örebro Synod was held here in 1529.

Notable events in Örebro's history include the national diet meeting at Örebro in 1810, where Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte was elected crown prince of Sweden.

Although a trade town, Örebro remained small until the second half of the 19th century, when it grew rapidly as a centre of the national shoe-manufacturing industry.

Sites of interest Örebro's old town, Wadköping, is located on the banks of the Svartån (black stream). It contains many 18th and 19th century wooden houses, along with museums and exhibitions.

Culture • Swedish Chamber Orchestra • Örebro is the hometown of the punk-rock band Millencolin. They named one of their albums Pennybridge Pioneers, where Pennybridge stands for Örebro as a colloquial translation into English. • Örebro is the hometown of various Swedish rock bands, such as Smash Into Pieces, Truckfighters, Blues Pills, Witchcraft, Troubled Horse and others, Graveyard's Lead Singer, Joakim Nilsson also was born in Örebro • The influential and highly popular grind band Nasum were formed in Örebro. • Örebro is one of the public broadcaster SVT's 12 local news districts and has television premises located in the city.

Örebro has hosted a contemporary art exhibition called Open Art on four occasions: in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2013. In 2013, the exhibition featured works by 90 artists from Sweden and many other countries throughout the world. The fifth edition of the exhibition is planned for the summer of 2015.

Örebro University is one of Sweden's most recent, being upgraded from högskola (university college) in 1999. It currently has around 16,000 students and a staff of 1,100. The institution is regarded as one of the top 351–400 universities in the world. The university is also named among the world's top 100 young universities (number 62) in the 2018 THE Young University Rankings.

Gustavsvik, the largest water park in the Nordic countries, is located just a kilometer south of central Örebro. With more than 700,000 visitors per year, it is one of the most popular tourist and leisure establishments in Sweden. Only Liseberg, Gröna Lund and Skansen are more popular. In the summer the manor of Karlslund is a very popular place to visit.

Sport: Football • Örebro SK currently playing in Superettan. • Karlslunds IF currently play in Division 1 Norra. • BK Forward currently playing in Division 2 Norra Svealand. • Örebro Nordic currently playing in Division 4 Örebro. • Rynninge IK currently play in Division 2 Södra Svealand. • Örebro Syrianska IF currently play in Division 2 Södra Svealand. • FK Bosna 92 currently play in Division 3 Västra Svealand. • Adolfsbergs IK currently play in Division 4 Örebro. • IFK Örebro currently play in Division 4 Örebro. • IK Sturehov currently play in Division 4 Örebro. • Axbergs IF currently play in Swedish football Division 6 Norra.

Floorball • Lillån IBK • IBF Örebro

Other sports • Örebro Volley play in the highest level of women's volleyball leagues in Sweden. They have won the league ten times. • Örebro HK currently play in Swedish Hockey League (the highest level) since the 2013–14 season, having been promoted in the 2012–13 season. • Örebro Black Knights are an American football Club that played in the Swedish Championship Finals in 1998, 1999, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. • Örebro Universitets IF Rugby • Örebro SK Bandy has become national bandy champion five times. The home matches are played in Behrn Arena, one of sixteen (as of 2018) indoor bandy arenas in Sweden.

Karlslunds IF is a multi-sports club specialising in American Football, Bandy, Baseball/Softball, Bowling, Football, Gymnastics, Skiing and Swimming.