Götene is a small locality in what was once the county of Skaraborg. Today it is part of the region Västra Götaland and it has a population of around 5.000 people. Götene is also the home of several small businesses as well as larger factories for companies such as Arla Foods and Semper.
A Short History of Götene
There are plenty of name deviations from the past. The original name is believed to have been Göthene or Göthenen, but Götened has also been used. Peasants often used the name Göta. The current spelling dates back to 1909.
It was originally only a small church village and the centre of the parish with the same name. The 20th century saw Götene becoming the center of the new municipality and it became a köping, a market town, as a result of the municipality reforms of 1952. Its time as a köping was short-lived as the reforms in 1971 revoked its status.
Things to Do and See
Götene is mostly associated with the nearby area Kinnekulle. For anyone wanting to explore the small locality, there are still several sculptures and parks to enjoy. It is also within easy reach of larger towns such as Mariestad and Skara.
Kinnekulle
Götene is the gateway to Kinnekulle, a table mountain that stands between the locality and lake Vänern. It reaches around 300 meters above the sea and is famous for its history and nature. Kinnekulle is home to a meteorite that impacted the planet around 470 million years ago and many more natural sights. It is especially famous for the view out over lake Vänern. Outdoor activities such as hiking are one of the major attractions today.
The Centre of Götene
Walking the streets in the centre of Götene will not take long, but there are a few sights that might be of interest. There are a few smaller shops as well as several sculptures in the centre. Locate “Helenas Hus” by Tina Frausin, “Sågen” by Gösta Pettersson, “Hambo”, “Pomona”, and “Premiär” by Torsten Fridh and “Mural 2012” by Daniel Broman and Ezequiel Frias.
How to Get to Götene
- Flights: The closest larger airport is Göteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) 138 kilometres away, with both domestic and international flights.
- Car: Götene is located along the E20 between Skara and Mariestad. Road 44 also connects the town with Lidköping.
- Train: There are no train station in Götene.
- Bus: Regional and local buses connect Götene with the surrounding region.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 339 kilometers (3h 50min)
- Gothenburg – 145 kilometers (1h 56min)
- Malmö – 404 kilometers (4h 23min)
- Linköping – 200 kilometers (2h 33min)
- Kiruna – 1437 kilometers (16h 58min)
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