Jonkoping Travel Guide
350km (217 miles) SW of Stockholm, 150km (93 miles) NE of Gothenburg, 200km (124 miles) NE of Helsingborg
At the southern rim of Lake Vättern, this is the lake's largest town. It once was famous for manufacturing matchsticks, and the original factory from the 1840s still stands, although it no longer makes this product. However, a fascinating cultural area has been built up around the match museum. It's called the Tändsticksområdet, or "matchstick area."
Pronounced yun-shurp-ing, Jönköping is one of the oldest trading centers in Sweden, left over from the Middle Ages when it was granted its town charter in 1284. In the 19th century, the town was virtually synonymous with the matchsticks used all over Europe and the local merchants became prosperous. However, in 1932, when demand had dwindled drastically, the local match tycoon, Ivar Kruger, shot himself rather than face bankruptcy. The end came to the industry shortly thereafter.
Today, a thriving town of some 52,000 people, Jönköping is a good base for exploring some of the more interesting points along the southern tier of Lake Vättern.
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