Onsala facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Onsala
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Church in Onsala from the 12th century
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 Onsala
Location in Sweden Halland
Onsala
Location in Sweden
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| Country | Sweden |
| Province | Halland |
| County | Halland County |
| Municipality | Kungsbacka Municipality |
| Area | |
| • Total | 10.53 km2 (4.07 sq mi) |
| Population
(31 December 2020)
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| • Total | 12,415 |
| • Density | 1,135/km2 (2,940/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Onsala (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈʊ̂nːˌsɑːla]) is a town in Kungsbacka Municipality, Halland County, Sweden. It's also a long piece of land, about 14 kilometers (9 miles) long, that sticks out into the sea on Sweden's west coast. This area faces the Kattegat sea, which is about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the big city of Gothenburg.
Onsala has a long history, going all the way back to the time of the Vikings. Its name might even come from the old Norse words for "The Halls of Odin," suggesting it was once a special place for the god Odin. Today, about 12,000 to 14,000 people live here. Most homes are single-family houses, especially on the east side of the peninsula.
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Exploring Gottskär Village
The biggest village in Onsala is called Gottskär. Long ago, it was a busy fishing village. Today, Gottskär is a fun place with a few restaurants where you can grab a bite to eat. It also has a leisure boat harbour, which is a great spot for boats to dock.
Famous People from Onsala's Past
Onsala is known for a famous historical figure named Lars Gathenhielm. He was born in the old area of Onsala. Lars was a Swedish privateer, which means he was like a sea captain who was given permission by the king to attack and capture ships from enemy countries, like Denmark.
After Lars passed away, his wife, Ingela, bravely took over his business as a privateer. They are both buried in a special room under the smaller tower of the local church. Their white stone coffins even have carved "jolly rogers" (skull and crossbones symbols) at the foot end!
Onsala Space Observatory
Onsala is also home to the Onsala Space Observatory. This is a very important place for science in Sweden. It's a national radio observatory, which means scientists here use special telescopes to study radio waves from space. They learn about stars, galaxies, and other amazing things happening far away in the universe.
Sports Clubs in Onsala
If you like sports, Onsala has some great clubs!
- Onsala BK
