Västra Götaland County, Administrative county on western coast, Sweden
Västra Götaland County is an administrative region on the western coast that stretches from the Kattegat shore to the shores of Lake Vänern. It covers 49 municipalities with a mix of coastal towns, forested areas, and fertile plains in the interior.
The administrative unit was created in 1998 by merging three former regions: Gothenburg and Bohus, Älvsborg, and Skaraborg. This reform combined areas that had been managed under separate structures into a single regional organization.
The territory includes three distinct historical provinces - Västergötland, Bohuslän, and Dalsland - each with their own traditional customs and regional characteristics.
Gothenburg serves as the administrative center where the governor is based, while Vänersborg acts as the political center for Regional Council sessions. The two cities share capital functions in different areas of regional governance.
The region combines areas from three historical provinces with distinct traditions: Västergötland in the interior, Bohuslän along the coast, and Dalsland to the north. This division remains visible today in regional dialects, culinary habits, and local festivals.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
