Skövde

Skövde (sköv'də), city (1990 pop. 30,540), Skaraborg co., S Sweden, midway between lakes Vänern and Vättern. During the Middle Ages many pilgrims visited the shrine of St. Elin (Helen) of Skövde, a local woman canonized in 1164. Not far from the city is the Gothic church of the former Cistercian monastery of Varnhem, where several Swedish kings are buried.