LIDKPING

town, Vstra Gtaland ln (county), southwestern Sweden, at the mouth of the Lidn River on Kinneviken Bay, Lake Vnern. It is of medieval origin and was chartered in 1446. After devastation by several fires, it was rebuilt, beginning in 1672. The manufacture of porcelain is the principal industry. The old town hall (16761882) originally was a hunting lodge belonging to Count Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie (162286), head of King Charles XI's administration from 1660 to 1680. About 15 miles (24 km) north of the town is Lck Castle, with more than 200 rooms; although its oldest parts date from 1298, when it was built as the residence of the bishop of Skara, it is essentially a 17th-century structure. Another attraction near Lidkping is Kinnekulle, a ridge underlain by igneous rock, once used by the Goths as a watch hill from which they could signal the approach of an enemy. Pop. (1990) mun., 35,756; (1996 est.) mun., 36,834.