About Karlstad
Karlstad is the county seat of Värmland and is located where the delta of the Klarälven River meets Lake Vänern, Europe’s third-largest lake. The city’s symbol is the sun, referring both to the fact that Karlstad often ranks among the sunniest places in Sweden and to “Sola i Karlstad”, a female entrepreneur and innkeeper in the 18th century who became known for her friendliness.
Karlstad Municipality has around 100,000 inhabitants, and within the municipal boundaries there are both urban and rural areas. The city is centrally located, halfway between Stockholm, Oslo, and Gothenburg. It is home to a large number of national government agencies and a successful service sector. Traditionally, the region has been strong in basic industries such as the forest-based bioeconomy, steel, and engineering. In recent decades, these have been joined by other developing industries. Karlstad University maintains close collaboration with the business community and the public sector in the region in both education and research.
In recent years, Karlstad has received a range of awards, including Outdoor Municipality of the Year, and consistently shows high scores in surveys relating to quality of life, cultural and entertainment offerings, and cycle-friendliness.
About the landscape and region of Värmland
Värmland is a province with proud traditions. It is known for its beautiful nature and its authors, including Nobel Prize winner Selma Lagerlöf. Värmland is also known for John Ericsson, one of the inventors of the propeller, and more contemporary figures such as the artist Lars Lerin. The region offers excellent opportunities for an active outdoor life: ski slopes, cross-country trails, bathing bays, an archipelago, boating, fishing waters, and vast forests.
Practical tips
Here we have gathered useful information about life in Karlstad.