Ever wondered about the story behind this bridge? This is Vindbron. It is more than just a crossing. It connects Jönköping’s past with its present.
Vindbron is known by a few names. Locals might call it Södra Svängbron. Officially, it’s Klaffbron. But Vindbron is the name most people use. This bridge stands where the first bridge crossed Hamnkanalen. That first bridge was made entirely of wood. It used a clever combination of a drawbridge and a windlass.
In the 1760s, a new and sturdier Vindbron was built. The harbor grew in the 1830s. Ships became bigger. A rolling bridge made of iron was chosen. In 1863, the harbor board decided to build this new bridge over the canal. But it took until 1877 for Bergsunds mekaniska to deliver it. This rolling bridge used water from the water pipes to move.
But the design didn’t work very well. From 1886 to 1887, it was changed to a swing bridge. Imagine standing here in 1862. A photo from that summer shows Jönköping’s grand hotel and the old Vindbron. You might have seen Länsbokhållaren O. Lindberg. He died in November 1867. Or perhaps Garfvaren G. Nyberg. Even Boktryckaren C. J. Lundgren, who died in July 1869, or Handlanden F.G. Sundwall, who died in November 1897, could have crossed the Vindbron.
An exhibition in the Arkivhuset featured a view near Vindbron. It was a reproduction of a watercolor by Jonas Carl Linnerhielm. The original was from January 20, 1790. The exhibition showcased Jönköping’s history. It ran from 2007 to 2020. It was opened on March 20, 2010. An open archive was added on October 13, 2010.
Jönköping itself has an interesting history. It sits at the southern end of Vättern. Vättern is Sweden’s second-largest lake. Jönköping was the first city in Sweden to get its rights from a king. King Magnus Ladulås granted these rights in 1284. He mostly ruled from Visingsö. Visingsö is Vättern’s biggest island.
The name Jönköping comes from Junebäcken. That was a creek in Talavid. Köping means trading center or market place. Jönköping is the ninth-largest city in Sweden. It grew from three towns. Those towns were Jönköping, Huskvarna, and Norrahammar.
Today, Vindbron stands as a testament to Jönköping’s history. It has seen wooden bridges, iron bridges, and swing bridges. It connects not just the city’s physical spaces. It also links the people of today with those of the past. As you cross the Vindbron, remember the stories it holds. Think about the people who walked here before you.