Varnum

Varnum lies at the northeastern end of Lake Vänern, where the Varnan River and a road between Sweden and Norway meet. A market and harbour grew at the bridge called Bro. In the 1570s Duke Charles established a furnace and forge nearby, using the lake to ship iron from the mining districts. Bro received town privileges in 1642 and was renamed Kristinehamn for Queen Christina; its harbour became a major outlet for Bergslagen's bar iron.