Mariestad travel guide

Mariestad is a town with about 15,000 inhabitants in the province Västergötland in Sweden. It is by the lake Vänern. It has a long history and has played an important part in Swedish history.

Understand

The residence of the governor (Photo: (WT-shared) Riggwelter at wts.wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Mariestad is located at the mouth of Tidan river. Marieholm, an island in the mouth of Tidan, was the site of a large manor during the middle ages. The manor was used both as a royal residence and as a residence of the governor of the historical Skaraborg County. In 1583 Mariestad was founded by Duke Karl, later crowned as Karl IX of Sweden. He named the city after his wife Maria of Pfaltz. The Protestant Karl was in a feud with his pro-Catholic brother and King Johan III and one of the reasons for founding Mariestad was to build a Protestant cathedral in the area, and thereby prevent Skaraborg Diocese from turning Catholic. The city thus became an important religious centre, and Mariestad Cathedral was built between 1559 and 1615 in Gothic and Renaissance style. The cathedral is however unique in Sweden as the only cathedral which has never had its own bishop. The city was also dominated by trade with Värmland and the mining centres in Bergslagen on the other side of lake Vänern.

In the 1660s, Mariestad became the county seat of Skaraborg County. However, the city remained rather small, with a population of some 900 people in 1760. The 'old city' of Mariestad was mainly constructed during the 18th and 19th centuries, and during this era Mariestad hospital was opened as one of the first in Sweden. During the 19th century Trollhätte and Göta kanal were constructed, contributing to increased trade and industrialization in Mariestad. Traditional Mariestad manufacturers include the whiteware company Electrolux and the paper industry Katrinefors. Mariestad was also the main place of production of the vulcanised lump paper material unica.

Tourist office

• Mariestads Turistbyrå, Stadshuset, Kyrkogatan 2, ☏ +46 501-75 58 50.

Get in

Mariestad's first hospital (Photo: User: (WT-shared) Riggwelter at wts wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0)

By train

Mariestad central station is located on Nygatan by the railway Kinnekullebanan. It is connected to Gothenburg and Hallsberg, and is operated by the regional company Västtrafik (+46 771-41 43 00). The national operator SJ carries traffic between Stockholm and Gothenburg, with stops on the nearby Töreboda and Skövde, from where you can get a bus to Mariestad.

By bus

• Västtrafik operate the regional bus traffic in Västragötaland County, including Mariestad.
• Säfflebussen (in Swedish and Norwegian only) stops at the Mariestad bus station with the lines 201 and 203 (Uddevalla-Vänersborg-Trollhättan-Lidköping-Mariestad-Örebro).
• Swebus Express makes a stop in Mariestad with the buses 801 (Gothenburg-Mariestad-Örebro-Stockholm) and 839 (Karlstad-Mariestad-Jönköping).

By car

The E20 highway between Stockholm and Gothenburg passes through Mariestad. Route 202 carries traffic to Töreboda in the east while route 26 leads to Skövde in the south.

By plane

The closest international airport is Gothenburg's Landvetter Airport GOTIATA 170 km (110 mi) south west. Örebro airport ORBIATA, 110 km (68 mi) north east of Mariestad serve domestic flights.

Get around

Stora torget (Photo: (WT-shared) Riggwelter at wts.wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Central Mariestad is very small and easy to cover by foot or bike.

• Bicycles can be rented at Sjötorps upplevelsecenter, Tallåsvägen 6, (+46 501-511 33) in Sjötorp 20 km (12 mi) north of Mariestad, which can be accessed with the regional train Kunnekulletåget.
• Västtrafik operate the regional bus traffic in Västergötland County, including bus traffic around Mariestad municipality.
• The local taxi company is Taxi Mariestad (+46 501-180 80), whose main hub is by the train station.

See

• Vänern - the biggest freshwater lake in Europe. Nice boats, and supposedly a lot of Swedish tourists in summer.
• Mariestad Cathedral (Mariestads Domkyrka), Nygatan 23, ☏ +46 501-39 05 00. Constructed between 1559 and 1615 in gothic and renaissance style.
• Qvarnstensgruvan i Lugnås (Millstone Mine of Lugnås), Lugnås Älerud 1 (By Lugnåsberget 20 km (12 mi) from Mariestad by highway E20), ☏ +46 501-406 86. A millstone mine which date back to the middle ages up until the 1920s. Guided tours are available.
• Landshövdingsresidenset (The Governors Residence), Marieholmsbron 3, ☏ +46 501-75 58 31. Jun-Aug: Tue-Sat. Contains two museums, the Vadsbo Museum of art and local history and culture, and Mariestads Industrimuseum of local industrial history, with extra focus on the Unico-material.
• Djurö nationalpark (Djurö National Park), ☏ +46 501-60 50 00. A 2400-hectare island and natural reserve in lake Vänern. It can only be reached by boat. Boat tours are arranged by the local tourist office.
• Kanalmuseet i Sjötorp (The Canal Museum in Sjötorp), Slussvägen 110 (In Sjötorp some 20 km (12 mi) north of Mariestad), ☏ +46-141202050. A museum over Göta kanal, and the local seafaring and shipsbuilding industry. 40 kr.

Do

Go swimming, rent a bike, or have some other fun. On Saturdays, there's a market at the main square.

• Bathing. There are 15 bathing areas in Mariestad. The three closest to Mariestad are Ekuddens camping, Sandviken and the recreational area Snapen. Ekuddens camping include a temperate outdoor swimming pool. Mariestads Badhus (+46 501-75 62 00) is an indoor pool on Göteborgsvägen 4.
• Miniature golf. There are several miniature golf courses in Mariestad. One course is located opposite of the police station and has preserved its look since the mid 20th century. Another is located by Ekuddens camping, Ekuddenvägen (+46 501-106 37).
• Mariestads Teater (Mariestad Theatre), Österlånggatan 8, ☏ +46 501-755841. Mariestad has one of Sweden's oldest provincial theaters, constructed in 1842.
• Sandvikens Golfklubb, Årsundavägen 100, ☏ +46 501-471 47. An 18-hole golf course.
• Lilla Björkö. An outdoor bar with concerts at summer.

Buy

ATMs can be found by Nya Torget, Esplanaden, Nygatan and ICA Oxen at Stockholmsvägen. Since Mariestad is the birthplace of the unica-material, unica items, such as boxes, are popular souvenirs.

Eat

In 2003 the local women's organization Kvinna Skaraborg launched a type of salmon canapé as Mariestad's unofficial signature dish.

• Restaurant Aqva, Viktoriagatan 15, ☏ +46 501-195 15. Housed in the eponymous hotel, with a Mediterranean cuisine.
• Baltzar von Platen Lodge (Located in Lyrestad, 20 km (12 mi) north of Mariestad), ☏ +46 501-507 70.
• Restaurang Holländaren, Rickard Hedlunds Väg, ☏ +46 501-27 53 53.
• Kingfisher, Kungsgatan 8, ☏ +46 501-166 60. An Indian restaurant.
• Sill & Dynamit, Hamnplan/Hamngatan 19 (Near the guest harbor), ☏ +46 501-141 80. The local upscale restaurant at the harbour.
• Sin Thai, Sandbäcksgatan 63 B, ☏ +46 501-773 99. Mariestad's only Thai restaurant is in the basement of an apartment block. In addition to traditional Thai dishes, they also serve pizza.
• Tandoori, Viktoriagatan 15, ☏ +46 501 77920. An authentic Indian restaurant just outside of the city centre.
• Sand, Kungsgatan 5, ☏ +46 501 385353. A Lebanese restaurant with outdoor seating; they also serve grill and burger food.

Drink

Mariestad Theatre (Photo: (WT-shared) Riggwelter at wts.wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Some times the city hotel organize club nights.

• Buffalo restaurang och pub, Österlånggatan 16, ☏ +46 501-149 30. A pub in American steakhouse style.
• Klings Glass, Milstensgatan 4, ☏ +46 501-717 75. Apr-Aug: Thu 13:00-15:00, Sep-Mar: Thu 13:00-14:00. A local ice-cream manufacturer.

Sleep

Budget

• Bergs Hotel, Kyrkogatan 18, ☏ +46 501-103 24. An 18th-century house, which used to be a girls' boarding school.
• Björken Resanderum, Viktoriagatan 8, ☏ +46 70-573 26 35.
• STF Vandrarhem Mariestad, Hamngatan 20, ☏ +46 501-104 48. Definitely sleep at the youth hostel. It's cheap, it's fun, and it has a truly nice setting close to the lake. Moreover, it's several great old wooden houses grouped together in a nice courtyard! If you don't stay there, have a look at it!

Mid-range

• Stadshotellet Mariestad, Nygatan 10, ☏ +46 501-138 00, fax: +46 501-776 40. The old town hotel has a restaurant, bar, spa and sauna.
• Hotell Vänerport, Hamngatan 32, ☏ +46 501-771 11.
• Hotel Wictoria, Drottninggatan 7, ☏ +46 501-139 05. A hotel in an old Italian-style villa.
• Baltzar von Platen Lodge Norrqvarn (Located in Lyrestad 20 km (12 mi) north east of Mariestad.), ☏ +46 501-507 70. A hotel and hostel.

Connect

• Stadsbiblioteket (City Library), Drottninggatan 12, ☏ +46 501-75 58 20. Offers computers or Wi-Fi if you choose to bring your own device.

Cope

• Police, Oxvägen 1, ☏ +46 31-739 20 00. Only open during weekdays.
• Mariestad Hospital, Lockerudsvägen 12, ☏ +46 501-625 00. There is no emergency room, and emergency emergencies are sent to Kärnsjukhuset i Skövde.
• Apoteket Lejonet, Österlånggatan 15, ☏ +46 771-45 04 50. One of two pharmacies in Mariestad, and the only one which is open on Saturdays.

Go next

The Cathedral (Photo: User: (WT-shared) Riggwelter at wts wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0)

• Götene
• Lidköping
• Skara
• Skövde

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