Skövde can brag about having a saint on its coat of arms. Saint Elin was canonised in 1165 by Pope Alexander III and Sweden’s first Arch Bishop Stefan. Skövde, located between lakes Vänern and Vättern, can trace its roots back to the Middle Ages. That author Jan Guillou placed his story about crusader Arn Magnusson in the area has only increased tourism. In Varnhem Monastery Church Birger Jarl is most probably buried, fuelling the belief that this is where the country of Sweden was born. Today Skövde has the cultural hall, the first to be built in Sweden in 1964, as well as Skövde City Museum, if you’re interested in culture and history. In the latter there is a copy of the Timboholm treasure, the biggest Nordic treasure of gold, found by farm hands Tjöle-Lotta and Bly-Per in the beginning of the 20th century. Don’t forget to visit mountain Billingen and to see the herons dance by lake Hornborgasjön.