Malmö

Malmö mälˈmö [key], city (1990 pop. 223,660), capital of Malmöhus co., S Sweden, on the Øresund opposite Copenhagen. Sweden's third largest city, it is a major naval and commercial port and an industrial center. Manufactures include textiles, clothing, metal goods, processed food, and cement. There are also shipyards and machine shops. Roughly a third of the city's inhabitants are of foreign birth or descent.

Founded in the 12th cent., Malmö was an important trade and shipping center during the Hanseatic period. It was usually a Danish possession until it passed to Sweden in 1658 with Skåne prov. Malmöhus castle (begun 1434) is a museum. Other noteworthy buildings include the city hall (1546), St. Peter's Church (14th cent.), and the twisted high-rise apartment building (2005) designed by Santiago Calatrava. Malmö is connected by a bridge and tunnel link (opened 2000) to Copenhagen.

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