Send Gift Baskets to Gavle, Sweden

Gävle is thought to derive its name from the Old Swedish word gavel, which means river bank, and refers to the Gavleån (Gävle River). Gävle-ägarna means “Gavel-owners” in Swedish. The earliest settlement was called that. In the past, this name was shortened to Gävle, Gefle, and then Gävle.

It was only in 1446 that Gävle received its official town charters, and it was first mentioned in official history books in 1413.

For a long time, the only wooden buildings in Gävle were small, low buildings with turf or shingle roofs. Boat houses dotted the banks of Gavleån, Lillån, and Islandsån. Until the 18th century, the town was centered around three important buildings: the church, the regional palace, and the town hall.

Gävle has been engulfed in flames three times in the past 300 years. The town was rebuilt with straight streets and rectangular city blocks after the fire of 1776. There was also an increase in the number of stone and brick houses. A town fire that destroyed approximately 8,000 homes and 350 farms in 1869 caused a population of around 10,000 to lose their homes. The town north of Gavlen burned down, and all the buildings south of Gavleån survived. A historic reserve, Gamla Gefle, has been preserved between the old town’s museum and library.

With its large esplanades and green spaces, Gävle developed its characteristic grid plan after the fire. As a result, it has become a green town with wide avenues. Developing this project was primarily intended to prevent the further spreading of town fires.