About Östersund
Östersund lies in the middle of the rich Lake Storsjön area, reflecting in Sweden's fifth largest lake, Storsjön, meaning the Great Lake. It is the only big town in Jämtland County, with mountain views and plenty of shops, entertainment, cafés, and culture.

The city has a great music culture, culminating in Storsjöyran, the Storsjö Mania Festival, at the end of July - one of Sweden's largest music festivals, with national and international artists. Östersund is also famous for the monster, Storsöodjuret, which sometimes surfaces in Lake Storsjön. Perhaps you see the monster from S/S Thomée.

Östersund is easy to get to. Åre Östersund Airport is situated on Frösön and there are excellent train connections with Stockholm, Gothenburg, northern Sweden and Trondheim. By car, drive the E14 between Trondheim and Sundsvall, road E45 or road 87 (the Indalsleden).

Östersund is a family town. One of its gems is the Jamtli Historieland, where visitors step back in time and participate in the chores of bygone days. History is also present on the island of Frösön, which features Scandinavia's northernmost rune stone and many other monuments. Since time immemorial, this was the meetings' venue for the inhabitants and the site of the old parliament ‘Jamtamot'. The green island in Lake Storsjön, with its magnifi cent view of the Oviken peaks, attracted Swedish composer Wilhelm Peterson-Berger to settle down here. Enjoy his music and unique decorating style at his home, Sommarhagen.

Take the highest lift in Östersund, or challenge yourself to the 320 stairs up, to enjoy the breathtaking views of the city and the wideranging mountains. At the top of the 65-m high building is a glass-walled storey featuring lookouts, a café and restaurant.

The Moose Garden farm, just outside Östersund, features the king of the Swedish forests. Take a guided tour, pet tame moose, and learn how paper is made from moose droppings.

During the winter Östersund and Frösön grow larger as Lake Storsjön freezes over. In Vinterparken, www.vinterstaden.se within a snowball's throw of the main square Stortorget, open a tour-skating course, cross-country ski tracks and walking loops. In Vinterparken ( you will find a play castle made of snow, rental of skates and touring skis, wood-heated tubs, sauna, and sun-chairs. The slalom piste in the centre of town is called Gustavsbergsbacken with the kids' slope Silverling. There is ski fun with tricky courses for cross-country skiing at Lövsta on Frösön, free and floodlit in the evenings. The ski stadium, located within easy reach of the town centre comprises 90 km of tracks for exercising. In ‘Utsikten' at the stadium you can hire skis, have your equipment serviced, book technique lessons and try biathlon; also free access to showers and saunas. More information about tracks and grooming is available at www.ostersund.se/skidspar

The IBU World Biathlon Championships staged in Östersund in February 2008 was a huge success and is followed up by World Cup premiere events in December 2008 and 2009. Enthustiastic supporters will come from far and near to enjoy the athmosphere and exiting competitions at the arena. Jamtli will keep its Vinterland open between 8 Feb and 8 March with an ice workshop, storytelling at King Winter and other activities. www.turist.ostersund.se