Skåne
Encyclopedia : S : SK : SKN : Skåne
- Please note that the current administrative county is described in Skåne County
[Skåne] (also known as Scania in English) is the southernmost historical province (landskap) and County (Län) of Sweden. It borders Halland, Småland and Blekinge. To the east, west and south it also borders the Baltic Sea and the Oresund strait. Due to its historical connection to Denmark and its relatively mild climate and fertile soil, Skåne is both culturally and physically distinct from the other provinces of Sweden.
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The provinces of Sweden with Blechingia highlighted
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County
The administrative subdivision is currently Skåne County, but it has virtually the same boundaries as the historical province of Skåne. Until 1997, Skåne consisted of the two counties of Kristianstad and Malmöhus, when they where combined into Skåne County.Politics
For politics see Skåne Regional CouncilHistory
Main article: History of SkåneHistorically the province of Skåne was a part of Terra Scania, also known as Skåneland, which together with Jutland and "the islands" constituted Denmark. Following the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658, the entire Terra Scania became a possession of the Swedish Crown, retaining its old laws and Diet, but was soon to be split. Bornholm rebelled and was returned to Denmark, and the other provinces were successively incorporated into Sweden.
As the incorporation affected not only Skåne, but also Halland and Blekinge, a combined description of the history can be found in the article Skåneland.
Geography
The geography of Skåne was shaped by the last ice age, the Weichsel glaciation, a time when it was totally covered with ice. Hallandsåsen and Söderåsen are major landmarks but contrary to popular belief, they are not ridges left behind by the retreating ice but horsts formed by tectonic activity along the Tornquist zone.
The terrain is almost completely flat, which distinguishes it amongst the otherwise forest- and waterway-rich geography of Sweden. Skåne has no mountains and few hills, lakes or forests. Stretching from the north-western to the south-eastern parts is a belt of deciduous forests following the Linderödsåsen ridge, and previously marking the border between Malmöhus County and Kristianstad County. Denser fir forests are found in the north-eastern Göinge parts along the border with the forest dominated province of Småland.
Otherwise the flatland consists of highly fertile agricultural land very important for the rest of Sweden. For instance, 90% of Sweden's sugar beets are grown in Skåne. The soil is among the most fertile in the world.
- Highest mountain: Söderåsen, 212 meters
- Lowest spot: Kristianstad, -2.7 meters
- Largest lake: Ivösjön
- National parks: Dalby Söderskog, Söderåsen, Stenshuvud
Cities
These towns have all held the prestigious City status in Sweden. In Danish times, other towns had been granted a royal charter, but the towns remained small. For more information, see: towns of Skåne''- Eslöv (1911)
- Falsterbo (approximately 1200)
- Helsingborg (1085)
- Hässleholm (1914)
- Höganäs (1936)
- Kristianstad (1622)
- Landskrona (1413)
- Lund (approximately 990)
- Malmö (approximately 1250)
- Simrishamn (approximately 1300)
- Skanör (approximately 1200)
- Trelleborg (approximately 1200)
- Ystad (approximately 1200)
- Ängelholm (1516)
Hundreds
Culture
The culture of Skåne is distinct from the rest of Sweden, influenced by its closeness to Denmark and Germany, and its geographical conditions. The local distinctive Scanian dialect is influenced by the Danish language and well as native idioms and speech patterns. Some regionalists have compared it to Provence in southern France, because of its historical and cultural distinctiveness from the rest of the country.
Its old churches that cover the countryside often stem from the medieval age. Due to church renovations in the 19th century, mainly by architects Carl Georg Brunius and later Helgo Zetterwall, many were renovated and extended, and some were torn down to give room for new. From those that kept its authentic touch we see how the churches of what was then Denmark once looked like with their distinctive stepped gavels and sturdy church porch, and usually made of stone. The most distinctive church building in Skåne, and in whole Sweden only rivalling Uppsala Cathedral, is Lund Cathedral that was built in the 11th century in sandstone from Höör (now much darkened). In addition, there is the gothic Saint Petri Church in Malmö dating from the early 14th century. Similar buildings can be found in all Hansa cities around the Baltic Sea (such as Helsingborg and Rostock).
But the churches in the countryside did not have the means for such extravagant buildings. Possibly the most notable countryside church is the ancient and untouched stone church in Dalby. It is the oldest stone church in Sweden, built around the same time as Lund cathedral. After the Lund Cathedral was built, many of the involved workers travelled around the province and used their acquired skills to make baptism fonts, paintings and decorations, and naturally architectural constructions.
Heraldry
Skåne was granted its coat of arms at the funeral of Charles X Gustav of Sweden in 1660, based on the arms of the town of Malmö. The arms is represented with a ducal coronet. Blazon: "Or, a Griffin's head erased Gules, crowned Azure and armed Azure, when it should be armed".
Dukes of Skåne
Since 1772, Swedish Princes have been created Dukes of various provinces. Although this is a solely nominal title, it may result in an emotional bond between the province and its royal duke.- Crown Prince Carl (from his birth in 1826 until he became King in 1859)
- Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf (from his birth in 1882 until he became King in 1950)
See also
External links
- [Skåne] - Tourist site
- [Foundation for Scanian Future]
- [Scania] - Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation
- [Øresundstid]. A cooperative educational project established by Scanian and Danish history teachers, funded by EUs InterregIIIA-program, the Danish Department of Education and others, 2004-2006.
- [How to make a Skåne Limpa]
| Provinces of Sweden |
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| Ångermanland | Bohuslän | Blekinge | Dalarna | Dalsland | Gästrikland | Gotland | Halland | Hälsingland | Härjedalen | Jämtland | Lapland | Medelpad | Norrbotten | Närke | Öland | Östergötland | Skåne | Småland | Södermanland | Uppland | Värmland | Västmanland | Västerbotten | Västergötland | |
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