Kungälv facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kungälv
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Kungälv from Bohus fästning in July 2006
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 Kungälv
Location in Västra Götaland
Kungälv
Location in Sweden
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| Country | Sweden |
| Province | Bohuslän |
| County | Västra Götaland County |
| Municipality | Kungälv Municipality |
| Area | |
| • Total | 11.52 km2 (4.45 sq mi) |
| Population
(31 December 2010)
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| • Total | 22,768 |
| • Density | 1,976/km2 (5,120/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Kungälv is a city in Sweden. It is the main town of Kungälv Municipality in Västra Götaland County. Kungälv is also part of the larger Greater Gothenburg Metropolitan Area. In 2010, about 22,768 people lived there. By 2021, the main area of Kungälv, Ytterby, and Kareby had almost 30,000 residents.
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History of Kungälv
Kungälv has a long and interesting history. Official records say the city started in 1612. This was when an older city, Konghelle, moved closer to the Bohus Fortress. However, some people believe it was just a new location for the old Norwegian city. Konghelle was even the capital of Norway for a time. Because of this, Kungälv celebrated its "1000-year anniversary" in 1959.
Sigurd the Crusader and Konghelle
One important person in Konghelle's history was Sigurd the Crusader. He was the King of Norway from 1103 to 1130. Sigurd was famous for being the first European king to join the Crusades. At that time, Kungälv was part of Norway.
Sigurd returned to Norway in 1111. He made Konghelle his capital. He built a castle there and kept a special relic. This relic was a splinter believed to be from the True Cross. Sigurd died in 1130. He was buried in Oslo, which is now in Norway.
Attack on Konghelle
In the 1120s, ships from Pomerania attacked the Danish coast. On August 10, 1135, Duke Ratibor attacked Norwegian towns. Konghelle was captured and burned down. His forces had a large fleet of 550 ships. They destroyed the town and harmed many people. Many survivors were taken away. A writer named Snorri Sturluson later said that Konghelle never fully recovered.
The old settlement of Konghelle burned down in 1612. After this, Christian IV of Denmark and Norway moved the city. It was rebuilt near Bohus Fortress and named Kongelf. Today, Bohus Fortress is the most popular place to visit in Kungälv.
Famous People from Kungälv
Many notable people have connections to Kungälv:
- Mikael Andersson, a former ice hockey player in the NHL and an Olympian, grew up here.
- Niklas Andersson, also a former NHL player and Mikael's younger brother, was born and raised in Kungälv.
- P. J. Axelsson, a former Boston Bruins player and Olympian, was born and raised in Kungälv.
- Eva von Bahr (physicist), the first female physics professor in Sweden, lived in Kungälv.
- Carin Koch, a professional golfer, was born and raised in Kungälv.
- Erik Lindh, a former table tennis player and Olympic bronze medalist.
- Lise Meitner, an Austrian physicist who studied radioactivity and nuclear physics, lived in Kungälv.
- Fredrik Sjöström, a former NHL player, grew up in Kungälv.
- Ernst Skarstedt, a Swedish-American author and journalist, was born in Kungälv.
- Pontus Wernbloom, a professional football player.
Getting Around Kungälv
You can travel in and around Kungälv using:
- European route E6, a major highway.
- Västtrafik regional buses.
- Bohusbanan railway, with a station in Ytterby.
Sports in Kungälv
Kungälv has several sports clubs:
- Kungälvs VBK - a volleyball club that won many Swedish championships in the 1980s and 90s.
- IFK Kungälv
- Ytterby IS
- IK Kongahälla
- Kungälvs SK
- Kungälvs simsällskap
- Kongahälla AIK
