History

According to legend, towards the end of the Viking period, around the 11th century, the English missionary Sigfrid, came to the then heathen Sweden and Växjö, as the first bearer of the Christian word.

He built the town’s first church that, during the 1170s, was replaced by a stone church, upon the site of which stands today’s cathedral. In 1342 Växjö was granted its City charter by King Magnus Eriksson. In 1542, the peasants in Småland, under the leadership of Nils Dacke, rebelled against Gustav Vasa’s taxes. The rebellion became known as the Dackefejden (the Dacke Feud).

Växjö has burnt to the ground on several occasions, but has always raised itself, like a phoenix from the ashes, and been re-built. The town has a long tradition as a seat of learning, the seat of the County Government and as a Cathedral City. Up until the beginning of the 1990s Växjö was also a garrison town. 

Famous personalities from Växjö include scientist and botanist Carl von Linné, world famous soprano and court singer, Christina Nilsson, authoress Elin Wägner, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Pär Lagerkvist, athletics star Carolina Klüft, tennis player Mats Wilander, musicians from The Ark and Eurovision Song Contest winner, Charlotte Perelli and John Lundvik.