Haga, Gothenburg

Haga is a city district in Gothenburg, Sweden, renowned for its picturesque wooden houses, 19th century-atmosphere and cafés.

Originally a working class suburb of the city with a rather bad reputation, it was gradually transformed into a popular visiting place for tourists and Gothenburgers.

Originally, it was decreed that, since the district was outside the city walls, the area could be demolished in the event that the land was needed by the crown or in case of a threatening siege.

In the 1690s, this rule was applied and 34 houses of the district were demolished in order to build a covered causeway, caponier, from the city walls to the fortress of Skansen Crown.

This led to a housing shortage during the 1870s and the establishment of additional worker's districts to accommodate the rapid growth of the city.