The best city hikes and walks in Västernorrland

The cultural center has a fantastic photo exhibition about icons of music history. Great photos and informative texts. (Free admission)

The cultural center houses an exhibition on the city's history. It is well-presented and diverse. (Free admission)

After the Sundsvall fire of 1888, the city's reconstruction was the subject of much debate. Officials eventually agreed to largely preserve the existing city plan, rather than transforming it into a network of wide fire lanes. However, all buildings were to be constructed of stone (hence the name Stenstaden, or Stone City), and a wide promenade, serving as a fire lane, was to be built through the city center. The use of stone for all city buildings meant that many who had lost their homes in the fire could not afford to rebuild. Despite immediate aid from across Europe, only the city's wealthy timber barons could finance the new stone structures.

The pedestrian zone "Storgatan" is the exclusive main shopping street of Sundsvall with many interesting long-established shops, but also the usual chain stores that can be found in all city centers.

Together with Stora Torget on the other side of the Esplanade, Vängåvan Park forms a large green space and the heart of Sundsvall. The park, with its fountain built at the end of the 19th century, was one of the first publicly designed spaces in Sweden. During Sundsvall's rapid economic growth, the area around Vängåvan, with its several banks, became one of Sweden's most important financial centers. The fountain in the center of the park was designed by the Sundsvall artist Sofia Gisberg. It was completed on August 25, 1886, the same day as the new Läroverket (the Swedish National Library), now the Hedbergska School. The fountain was made possible by donations from A. P. Hedberg. Public artworks were rare in Swedish provincial towns at that time and considered highly exclusive.

The Hirsch House, which occupies the entire west side of Stora Torget, was built between 1890 and 1891 by the merchant Isaak Hirsch, based on plans by Johan Laurentz and Hjalmar Kumlien. It features a Renaissance style with red brick facades and stucco ornamentation. A tower crowns the building, its spire topped with a weather vane in the shape of a golden dragon – a symbol of protection against fire, which is hardly surprising after the great city fire of 1888. The dragon's spire has become a landmark of Sundsvall. Even the name of the basketball team, the "Sundsvall Dragons," is derived from the tower's spire.

This house, built in the Dutch Renaissance style, was constructed for the pharmacist Peter Grahn on Stora Torget between 1889 and 1891. It was designed by Carl Fredrik Malm and Gustaf Hermansson.

Hedbergska Park, the cherry tree-adorned green oasis in Sundsvall's Stenstan, was created after the city fire of 1888. Johan August Hedberg donated the land to the city, stipulating that a park be established there. The city accepted the donation and created the park in 1899. Within the park stands a portrait bust of J. A. Hedberg, erected in 1931 and sculpted by Gustav Adolf Hedblom. Also present is the sculpture "Vägval" by the artist Jack Grafström, which invites passersby to make a decision by walking through an archway labeled "Yes," "No," or "Don't know."