Eskilstuna is a large industrial city and home to several factories of importance to the Swedish industry. It also has some preserved historic buildings, and the area has good conditions for water tourism, mainly canoeing.
Initially, the city was called Tuna, and part of Eskils was added in memory of the monk St. Eskil from the local monastery murdered in the area by the then pagan Vikings. The original, gothic monastery was destroyed during the invasions in the 17th century, and today its traditions are continued by the monastery church built in the 18th century.
Eskilstuna's rapid development began at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries during the industrial revolution. At that time, smelters and plants producing metal tools operated here. The mechanical industry also developed over time. To this day, the city is an important industrial center. An interesting place is the former industrial district with wooden buildings for workshops and workers' houses.
