The best city hikes and walks in Asköviken-Tidö naturreservat

A masterpiece with a long history, good explanations and many details

Kyrkbacken, the church hill, is a district of older wooden houses in a maze of winding streets next to Rudbeckianska High School and the cathedral. Until the 17th century, the hilly area north of the cathedral was called "Backerne" and formed the northern outer boundary of the city. The area was divided into a more middle-class part in the south and a slum area in the north. The south was inhabited by church people, teachers and priests, while the north was populated by the poor, the despised and the lowly. Although the rest of Västerås was urbanistically laid out in a regular, modern street network in the 19th century, no effort was made to change Kyrkbacken. The area therefore lives on with a charming jumble of alleys and characterful wooden houses that give us a glimpse of life here several centuries ago.

Bondtorget is the western part of Stora torget in Västerås. Beneath the cobblestones lies an old Christian burial site from the 11th century or possibly even older. The burial site was closed in the 13th century and is built over with houses. But the cobblestones hold more secrets. One of the houses on the edge of the square burned down in 1972. Remains of an older building were found under the burnt-out ruins. In a cavity in a wall, someone had hidden a treasure: 16,232 silver coins weighing a total of eighteen kilos, which later received the name "Västerås Treasure". The most recent coins were dated to 1518, suggesting that they were hidden sometime during the Liberation War. Most of the coins were minted in Västerås and were unused. The coins most likely came from the Sala silver mine, as it had previously been decided that Sala silver could only be minted in Västerås and Stockholm.

The Elite Stadshotellet Västerås awaits its guests in an elegant Art Nouveau building on Stortorget Square. The associated pub, "The Bishop's Arms", serves hearty pub food and international à la carte dishes made with fresh, regional ingredients. A large selection of beers, whiskeys and wines rounds off the offer.

Bengt-Göran Broström's bronze sculpture "Aseaströmmen" on Stora Torget depicts cyclists. Work began in 1985 and the sculpture was inaugurated in 1989. It features eight cyclists cast in bronze riding on a polished, twelve-meter-long granite wall that serves as a pedestal. At the end of the pedestal sits a conductor looking out at the cyclists, who also cycle through time, as their clothing shows: it ranges from models from the 1930s to the 1950s.

Stora Torget is the main square in Västerås. Since the beginning of the 20th century, commerce has been conducted around the square. Here you will find the old Domus building, now the Igor department store, the Sigma department store and the Stadshotellet. The square is home to the sculpture "Aseaströmmen" by Bengt-Göran Broström. The square is also mentioned in the children's song Husmusen.

Västerås Cathedral, now a five-aisled cathedral, was originally built in the 13th century on the site of a presumably wooden predecessor church and consecrated on August 16, 1271. A number of extensions followed until 1517. The tower and outer roof were given their current appearance when rebuilt after a fire in the 1690s. The exterior in general and the interior are largely influenced by reconstruction and remodeling carried out in 1856-1861, 1896-1898 and 1958-1961. The Swedish King Erik XIV, who reigned from 1560 to 1568, is buried in the church. The cathedral is the tallest building in Västerås at 91.8 metres; the church is the 16th tallest building in Sweden.

Opposite the cathedral across the street, is Sweden's only preserved school-prison Proba. Check google for Proba and translate! https://www.wikiwand.com/sv/Proba. Last used 1801 for drunken teachers or obstinately student.