Kalmar County

Kalmar County brings together three worlds: a Baltic coastline dotted with skerries, the limestone island of Öland, and forested Småland, with its glassworks and the settings of Astrid Lindgren's children's books. A vacation in Kalmar County is therefore just as appealing to families as it is to cyclists, bird-watchers and history buffs.

Kalmar and Its History

In the Middle Ages, Kalmar was one of the most important cities in Scandinavia. In 1397 the Kalmar Union was sealed here, uniting Denmark, Norway and Sweden under a single crown. Kalmar Castle, a moated fortress that the Vasa kings turned into a Renaissance palace, is one of the most beautiful in Sweden. The old town of Kvarnholmen, with its Baroque cathedral, sits on an island, and from the shore you can see the Öland Bridge, which at six kilometers (about 3.7 miles) is among the longest bridges in Europe. The Kalmar County Museum displays finds from the wreck of the warship Kronan, which sank in 1676, including coins, weapons and everyday objects.

Öland: Steppe, Windmills and Beaches

Öland, Sweden's second-largest island, is flat, sunny and full of contrasts. The agricultural landscape in the south, with the limestone steppe of Stora Alvaret, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and hundreds of windmills stand beside the roads. Borgholm, the main town, lies below an imposing castle ruin, and right next to it the royal family spends the summer at Solliden Palace. In the north, you'll find swimming beaches near Böda, the Långe Erik lighthouse and the raukar, limestone sea stacks along the shore. The island's southern tip, Ottenby, is a hotspot for migratory birds. On Öland, the reconstructed Iron Age fort of Eketorp, bustling with craftspeople in summer, is well worth a visit, as is the ring fort of Gråborg. In fall, streams of migratory birds pass by the southern tip near Ottenby, where the bird observatory studies them.

Sights Inland and on the Coast

Astrid Lindgren was born in Vimmerby; Astrid Lindgren's World brings Pippi, Emil and Ronia to the stage, and the Näs farmstead where she grew up is now a museum. The Kingdom of Crystal, with glassworks such as Kosta, Orrefors and Nybro, stretches between Kalmar and Växjö; you can watch glassblowers at work and in the evening enjoy Hyttsill, fried herring served at the glassworks. Västervik is a lively summer resort with skerries, sailboats and a song festival, and Oskarshamn is the ferry port for Gotland and for the island of Blå Jungfrun, a national park of red granite. Off Västervik lies the Tjust archipelago with thousands of islands, which excursion boats visit. In Oskarshamn, a museum commemorates the wood carver Döderhultarn and his humorous figures.

Food and Drink

Öländska kroppkakor, potato dumplings with a bacon filling, are the best-known specialty. Other local fare includes smoked eel and herring from the coast, as well as cheesecake and brown beans from Öland. In fall, the island celebrates the Skördefest harvest festival with farm shops and pumpkin markets.

Getting There and Best Time to Visit

Kalmar has an airport with connections to Stockholm, and trains run to Växjö, Gothenburg and Copenhagen. The best time to visit is between June and August; at the end of September, the Skördefest on Öland is a rewarding occasion. A bicycle is the best way to get around Öland, since the island is flat and crisscrossed by quiet side roads.