Skänninge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Skänninge
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Market square
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 Skänninge
Location in Östergötland
Skänninge
Location in Sweden
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| Country | Sweden | |
| Province | Östergötland | |
| County | Östergötland County | |
| Municipality | Mjölby Municipality | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2.76 km2 (1.07 sq mi) | |
| Population
(31 December 2010)
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| • Total | 3,140 | |
| • Density | 1,138/km2 (2,950/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | |
Skänninge is a small town in Sweden. It is located in Mjölby Municipality, in Östergötland County. In 2010, about 3,140 people lived there. Skänninge is about 10 kilometers north of Mjölby, which is the main town of the municipality.
Even though Skänninge is small, it is still called a "city." This is because of its long history. However, Statistics Sweden only counts places with more than 10,000 people as cities today.
Contents
Geography of Skänninge
This historic town is built along the Skena river. The river has been important for the town's development over many centuries.
Skänninge's Rich History
Skänninge has a very long history. It started in the 11th century, making it one of the oldest towns in Sweden. What's amazing is that the town hasn't changed much since then. It still has the same size and street layout from the past. Many places you see today were also there in the Middle Ages.
Important Buildings and Structures
One of the oldest buildings is the Church of Our Lady. In Swedish, it's called Vårfrukyrkan. German people living in the town built this church. They built it to honor the Virgin Mary. It is made in a style called Brick Gothic.
Besides the church, you can also find old parts of a monastery. This monastery belonged to the Dominican order. Monasteries were important places for learning and religion long ago.
Skänninge's Golden Age
Around the year 1250, a powerful family called Folkung lived near Skänninge. They made Skänninge a very important place. It became like the capital of the Götaland region. The market in Skänninge grew to be one of the busiest and richest in the whole country.
However, in the 13th century, another nearby city called Vadstena became more popular. Skänninge also suffered from big fires. There were fires in 1477 and 1466, which caused a lot of damage.
The Skänninge Market Today
Even with its challenges, Skänninge has kept one of its oldest traditions alive. The annual Skänninge Market is still held every August. This market has a tradition that is over 1,000 years old! About 120,000 people visit the market each year. It's a fun event that connects the town to its amazing past.
