Västergötland, Historical province in Västra Götaland County, Sweden
Västergötland is a historical province in Sweden that stretches between lakes Vänern and Vättern, connecting large agricultural plains with more than a dozen table mountains. The landscape shifts between open flatland, forests, and hills that spread across Västra Götaland County.
The region was one of the earliest centers of the Swedish kingdom and gained its own bishopric during the 11th century. The medieval legal document from the 13th century carries its name and reflects the political weight of the area.
The table mountains are surrounded by villages that show their agricultural roots in traditional red wooden farmhouses. Many place names end in -hem or -köping, pointing to settlements that existed before Christianity reached the area.
The area is best explored by car, as roads connect fields, lakes, and hill ranges. Gothenburg serves as a starting point for trips into other parts of the province.
Hornborgasjön attracts thousands of cranes in spring, stopping on their way north. The plains reveal rock layers from the Silurian, a period about 400 million years ago.
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