Åmål Past and Present

The earliest written reference to Åmål can be found in the 1300s. There have been several different spellings through time and while the exact meaning of the name is not known, there is speculation that the name means “a mill on the river.” (The word “Å” means “small river” and “mål” is believed to have come from the word “molle” which means “mill.”). In its earliest beginnings, Åmål was a marketplace.

On 1 April 1643 Queen Kristina signed the town charter for Åmål, the market center at the mouth of the Åmål River. The first forty years of its existence were marked by unrest. The town was looted and burned down in 1645, 1676, and 1679, by Norwegian and Danish enemies.

After a somewhat quiet existence, the railroad with its industrialization arrived in Åmål in the late 1800s. Åmål continues to be an industrial town today with both international companies and smaller manufacturing businesses. In addition, there has been an increase in service companies, many of which are tied to the growing tourist industry.

The “Å” (river) continues to wind through the town center between the square and the historic district which is called Plantaget (Plantation). A park is located in the middle of Plantaget, on the grounds of the original marketplace. In the park there is a small patch of ground that is a replica of the large uneven cobblestones of the original marketplace. Try it out and get a feel for the past.

Despite some devastating fires, there are many preserved historic buildings in Åmål. Plantaget, with its beautiful wooden houses, is one of the best preserved historical areas from the 1700s in Sweden. These houses are not only cultural treasures, but they are a dynamic part of Åmål where people live and small businesses flourish.

Today, life in Åmål can be as relaxed or as busy as you choose. Many residents commute by train or bus to jobs in bigger cities. Many cycle to jobs in town. They are usually involved in one way or another in sports, dance, music or art. And when they want to get away from it all, the lakes and forests are just a stone’s throw away.