About Östersund and Jämtland Härjedalen
The region of Jämtland Härjedalen is situated in central Sweden and consists of the two provinces Jämtland and Härjedalen. The region comprises the municipalities of Berg, Bräcke, Härjedalen, Krokom, Ragunda, Strömsund, Åre and Östersund. Östersund, founded in 1786, is the county seat with a population of about 60 000 and the region’s only city.
The cultural scene is a main contributor for making Östersund a nice city to live in. Active associations and societies, innovative entrepreneurs and enthusiasts, provide a wide range of cultural events and creations.
Here in our beautiful landscape, the pure nature, the rich culture, history, and especially the passionate food enthusiasts have created a cluster of farmers, culinary entrepreneurs and restaurateurs.
The proportion of organic farmers and commodity producers is high compared to the rest of Sweden. An increasing number of small-scale entrepreneurs succeed in combining prime food production with interesting cultural events, where gastronomy becomes one of many attractions.
Member of the Network in the field of Gastronomy since 2010, the city was also appointed as Sweden’s first Culinary Capital by the Swedish Government in 2011. Östersund was awarded this designation because of the city’s and the Jämtland Härjedalen region’s gastronomic entrepreneurs, culture, and traditions, which are rooted in locally and sustainably produced food.
The Sami culture is an essential part of the region’s culture and food traditions. Jämtland Härjedalen has a total of 11 Sami villages and around 45,000 reindeer. Some 95 companies are mainly involved in reindeer herding.
Sparkling birch sap, buckthorn marmalade, whey cheese and char. Wild game meat and berries. Unique, award winning prime products like cellar stored goat cheese and souvas, salted and smoked reindeer meat. The UNESCO initiative Creative Cities Network has appointed Östersund and Jämtland Härjedalen a Gastronomic Region since 2010, and in 2011 the city was appointed as Sweden’s first Culinary Capital by the Swedish Government.
Weather
The City of Östersund in the month of September is highly variable with an average temperature in September of 47°F/8°C. We recommend that you bring comfortable walking shoes and a warm jacket since some of the study visits and lunches will be outdoor.
Currency
The official and legal currency in circulation in Sweden is the Swedish Krona (SEK, plural “kronor”). Major credit cards are widely accepted throughout Sweden. You may withdraw cash with a Visa, MasterCard, Maestro or Cirrus card at any “Bankomat” or “Uttagsautomat” ATM. In order to pay or withdraw cash with your credit card, your card must have a chip and PIN (Personal Identification Number).
Time Zone
Sweden conforms to central European time, which is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
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