Luleå City was founded in 1621 around the medieval church in Gammelstad, but was moved in 1649 to its present site 10 km nearer the sea. The whole church village of Gammelstad has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Luleå has 73,000 inhabitants, making it the 26th largest municipality in Sweden.

The population of the Luleå region, including the neighbouring municipalities, totals 168,000.

Luleå is a large port of export, as well as being the economic, administrative and political centre of Norrbotten – taking up a quarter of Sweden. The commercial and industrial life has a wide base: steel and engineering industry, many IT-companies, commerce, experiences and leisure. Film and design are growing fields of business. Two out of three work within the service sector. This development is largely due to Luleå University of Technology, with 12,000 students in four cities. The University provides education in the spheres of engineering, social sciences, teaching, health sciences, and theatre, etc. Close to the University Campus there is the high-tech science park Aurorum accommodating 100 knowledge based businesses.

Sweden´s fifth largest airport is situated in Luleå. Stockholm is only two hours away on one of the approximate 15 daily flights. There are also direct flights to Gothenburg, to Umeå etc. Luleå has direct train connections with Stockholm and Narvik. The international cargo airport has Sweden´s longest runway.

Luleå´s geographical position and highly developed infrastructure make the City a centre of communications in the Barents Sea region. The numbers of conferences and congresses have increased substantially the last few years. The capacity for conferences amounts to 4000 and the largest venue can accommodate 1000 participants. There are 1700 hotel-beds in Luleå and 2000 more in the region.

The County hospital in Sunderbyn, opened in 1999, is unusual in many ways. Two daily newspapers are published here. Swedish Television, TV 4 Norrbotten and Swedish Radio have local branches. The new arts and conference centre (Kulturens Hus) contains a large public library, an art centre (Konstens Hus), concert-halls etc. The cultural life of Luleå is enriched by the Norrbotten Theatre, the Norrbotten Museum, Hägnan Rural Heritage Park, independent theatre groups, and many choirs.

In the summer-months the coastline of Norrbotten is one of Sweden’s sunniest places. During the last 15 years the average annual temperature has increased by one degree.

Luleå is truly a place of contrast. You will be surprised by the international atmosphere while at the same time the closeness to unspoiled countryside opens up for unlimited possibilities. Luleå can offer you action packed adventure but here you can also enjoy tranquillity, peace and quiet. In the wintertime the town is clothed in white but in summer it’s embraced by sun and heat.

Welcome to Luleå – the town by the sea and part of Swedish Lapland.

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