Beautiful Blekinge in southern Sweden

W O N D E R F U L W A T E R S

BLEKINGE

Spend your days off in Blekinge and be born again. Explore the unexplored and head out into Blekinge’s breathtakingly beautiful and ever-changing natural landscape. Discover the archipelago, the shimmering lakes, and the white sandy beaches.

WONDERFUL WATERS

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A magical lake-rich landscape

Discover Blekinge’s lakes and enjoy the scenicnatural surroundings and mesmerising tranquillity.

Anyone who’s got up at the crack of dawn on a beautiful morning and gone down to a lake hidden in the middle of a forest knows just what an amazing experience it is. The mirrorlike surface of the water and the silence that only gives way to the symphony of nature. This magical spell takes on another dimension as the mist tentatively recedes and the sunlight starts to break through. There are plenty of experiences like these in Blekinge’s lake-rich landscape.

HALEN in the municipality of Olofström is Blekinge’s largest lake. Halens Camping offers a great bathing site with a jetty and even a trampoline for those looking for more of an adrenaline rush. Or you can head out on the hiking trails in the nature reserve where there are picnic areas and wind shelters, run along the running tracks, or go for a horse ride along the

bridleways. Alternatively you can book a trip with Halenflotten and relax in the sauna while the raft floats around the lake.

LÅNGASJÖN, just outside Karlshamn, boasts a lovely sandy beach and offers the warmest bathing waters in Blekinge, so legend says. Here you can stay at the campsite or in one of the cottages. If you love peace and quiet, being close to nature, birdsong, rabbits jumping around, playful squirrels, and a breathtakingly soothing view out across Långasjön, then you’re in the right place. Not far from the cottages and campsite you’ll find Nytorpet – a Friluftsfrämjandet facility – with a wood-fired sauna on the shores of one of the Kroksjöarna lakes. Here you can enjoy a sauna followed by a dip in the lake - even in the winter if you fancy an ice-cold dip.

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EXCLUSIVE

Karlskrona lampan

Which colour are you? The now classic paraffin lamp was launched at the end of the 19th century as the “train driver’s lamp”. It was subsequently used as a small back-up lamp for train drivers, but now it’s a venerable piece of interior design in almost every other Swedish home. You can find all outlets at www.lampfabriken.com.

Pensionat Järnavik

Welcome to Pensionat Järnavik, where accommodation and nature come together. Here you can breathe the fresh sea air, sleep well, eat a hearty breakfast, and relax. The small café offers homemade waffles prepared from locally produced ingredients. If you want to explore the old commercial port and see the archipelago from the sea, it couldn’t be easier to head out on a kayak. Paddelkompaniet provides the canoes and kayaks, and then it’s up to you which of the archipelago’s many coves and islands you discover.

Sweden’s golf coast

Here in the heart of the garden of Sweden you’ll find eight golf courses, each with a completely different character. 36 holes at Karlshamns GK, or 12 slightly more familyfriendly holes in Leråkra. In 2018 Sölvesborg golf club was named Swedish golf club of the year! Blekinge’s golf coast has something for everyone, rookies and professionals alike. Play in the open landscapes or lush oak woodland, or next to a shimmering archipelago - it’s up to you.

EXCLUSIVE

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Exclusive

Eriksberg Hotel & Nature Reserve

“Like a wild African lodge in the middle of Blekinge”. This is how the White Guide described Eriksberg Hotel & Nature Reserve. A rather telling description of the experience you have getting close to nature in Eriksberg. Take the time to unwind with the savannah as your neighbour. Just outside your window wild animals roam, and in the warm room you’ve the chance to see many exotic breeds.

Tjärö

At the boundary between Ronneby and the Karlshamn archipelago you’ll find Tjärö, an archipelagic idyll that tantalises all the senses with its true Bullerby character close to the water and nature. Here you can enjoy flavours from the sea, head out on a sauna raft, jump off high cliffs, or bathe in the child-friendly bays of the archipelago. In high season, the jetty is packed with magnificent boats that remind you of the French riviera. An obvious summer destination for those who love the archipelago.

Ronneby Brunnspark Hostel

Between two turn-of-the-century villas, in the oldconvalescence home, you’ll find the Ronneby VandrarhemBed & Breakfast. Here in the heart of Brunnsparken, you can stay the night year round, close to both the charming centre and the archipelago boat the M/F Astrid. The boat goes all the way to Karön via the Ronneby river. It’s hard to get a more idyllic health-resort vibe.

INGREDIENTS

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The King, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, and one of the world’s most powerful men have all enjoyed a traditional Swedish fika at Mandeltårtan in Ronneby. But King Oscar II was the first to add royalty into the mix.

Swedish fika

Enjoy a regal fika at Mandeltårtan

THE STONE HOUSE FROM 1856 with its contemporary plate roof was once the manor house of the Fridhem estate next to Brunnsparken in Ronneby. The beautiful glass veranda welcomes you with its resplendence, while the interior is carefully thought out with tasteful design. The fact that you can sit and enjoy a Swedish fika in separate rooms creates a homely atmosphere

Almond cake is served along with other delicious pastries made from organic ingredients.

The coffee is brewed from carefully selected beans from the very best micro-roasteries. The name “Mandeltårtan” has an engaging background. “Prince Oscar Bernadotte, son of King Oscar II, stayed in this house when he was here to drink from the well. He was visited by his father, who also stayed in the house. Oscar ll loved almond cake and even had a cake named after him. With a story like this, it was obvious that the café should be called Mandeltårtan,” explains the owner, Angelica Ragnar.

Almond cake is, of course, the speciality here. It’s baked according to a secret recipe developed by Angelica herself. It has been well received and many guests return time and again. The Crown Princess has visited twice to eat the almond cake.

OTHER PLACES FOR FIKA ANDRÉNS SKÄRGÅRDSBAGERI, STURKÖ | BRYGGHUSET CAFÉ OCH ART, KROKÅS | CAFÉ SÖTT & SALT, KRISTIANOPEL CAFÉ VILLA UTSIKTEN, KARLSHAMN | MORMORS BAKERI, ASARUM | SYSTRARNA LINDQVIST CAFÉ & SURDEGSBAGERI, KARLSKRONA

NATURALLY

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GENUINE

Kungsholm fort

Trinity Church

The Örlog town that became a World Heritage Site

The remains of various eras that have survived to the present day make Karlskrona a living world heritage site. Visit Kungsholm fort, the Naval Museum, and the postcard idyll Brändaholm, and you’ll understand why Karlskrona is on the same UNESCO list as the pyramids in Egypt and the Great Wall of China.

Brändaholm

Naval Museum

GENUINE

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TOWARDS THE END OF THE 17TH CENTURY, Örlog towns were built around Europe where warships could be based. This was what Karl Xl had in mind when he founded Karlskrona in 1680. The base needed people and services in order to function, and it was around this that the civilian town grew.

At the same time, Karlskrona became a military target for attackers and required protection. Drottningskär Citadel and Kungsholm fort have guarded the harbour entrance for more than 300 years, and were joined in the 1860s by the God natt and Kurrholmen towers.

From Drottningskär Citadel you can enjoy the view from the cannon windows and immerse yourself in centuries of history. There’s a free ferry over and guided tours are available if you wish.

Kungsholm fort with its round harbour is the symbol of Karlskrona’s status as a World Heritage Site and is still used by the Swedish armed forces. Take the boat over from Fisktorget and visit the museum, which reflects the captivating history of the fort. Guided tours are also available.

The Naval Museum, located in the heart of Karlskrona, is not to be missed. It tells the story of Sweden’s naval history and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in southern Sweden. You can see impressive figureheads from old warships and much more. One of the most exciting activities is being able to get into a real submarine. Here you can feel, smell, listen, and get a sense of the submariners’ day-to-day life and the precarious position they were in. Excitement for adults and children alike! The water is transfixing, and if you get hungry, the Skeppsgossen restaurant is close at hand.

If you want to enjoy something truly beautiful, head out to the islet of Brändaholm. Here you can immerse yourself in a true postcard idyll with 45 small red cottages. Even if you’ve never been before, you’re sure to recognise Brändaholm, as it’s widely used on postcards.

For those who want to really enjoy Karlskrona’s beautiful archipelago, we recommended the Hop-on Hop-off concept offered by the archipelago boat service. You’ll get an unforgettable guided tour of the archipelago of up to fourteen jetty stops. A great experience all round!

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GENUINE

See life from the wild side

Do you want to get up close to bison, white-tailed eagles, seals, or stag beetles? Then join the safari in Blekinge and take a walk on the wild side!

YOU DON’T NEED TO GO TO Africa to go on a wild safari! Just stop off in Eriksberg just outside Karlshamn. The four-wheel drive off-road vehicles of the African savannah work just as well among the exotic species that roam freely around the nature reserve. With eight square-metre window panes and camera windows, the nature experience is maximised among crown game, fallow deer, wild boar, mouflon, bison, milu, and a variety of birds. If you choose a night safari you can also see foxes, mink, bats, and owls.

If you prefer a fossil-free safari, you can go around by bike. A highlight is the break for fika at Utsikten, where you can enjoy the view as well as a delicious sandwich from the kitchen of Eriksberg Hotel & Nature Reserve.

Not to be missed is the Eriksberg eagle safari and the search for white-tailed eagles, the largest bird of prey in northern Europe, with a wingspan of up to two and a half metres! If you’re lucky you could see up to twenty white-tailed eagles soar

over Eriksberg – a magnificent and powerful sight. Utklippan is Sweden’s southeasternmost group of islands, home to a large seal colony of up to a thousand seals. You can get here by using the archipelago boat service from the commercial harbour in Karlskrona, or use your own boat or a water taxi.

You can also book seal safaris with the company Saltstänk. If you want, take the opportunity to climb down into the water and swim with the seals.

If you head to Tromtö, you can visit lush beech forests and see the occasional stag beetle. The stag beetle is Europe’s largest insect and can grow to more than eight centimetres in length. The male stag beetle flies at dusk from late June in search of a mate, which he’ll usually find sipping sap from an oak tree. A protected species, the stag beetle is a symbol of Blekinge.

GENUINE

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Eriksberg eagle safari is a real highlight.

UTKLIPPAN just outside Karlskrona is home to a seal colony of up to a thousand seals. There’s a good chance of seeing more than one seal stick its head up to say hello.

ERIKSBERG is home to the world’s largest single herd of breeding bison, which is an endangered species. Sometimes it’s possible to track the bison on foot together with an expert guide inside the park on what is known as a walking safari. A very exclusive experience!

IN TROMTÖ’S BEAUTIFUL beech forest, a stag beetle might well buzz past during the high season. The giant beetle - the largest insect in Europe, as well as a symbol of Blekinge - reaches more than eight centimetres in length!

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COLOUR

MARTINSSONSKA GÅRDEN displays sculptures and art by Johnny Martinsson. Here, Johnny showcases his sculptures alongside works by his artist friends Oskar Wickström, Thure Wahlström, and Per Serre. Here you’ll find modern art mixed with architectural history. martinssonskagarden.se

SUSANNE DEMÅNE creates art in omnipresent materials. Her creative wood sculptures portray captivating women with interesting shapes and figures that are difficult to miss. Demåne’s creative garden and sculpture park are well worth a visit. demone.se

PLX is a music and art festival that takes place on Tjärö island every August, where artists, musicians, and entrepreneurs come together to exchange ideas and interact. An exciting and modern variation on a festival and a co-working space. plxtjaro.com

KARIN MEIJER creates her own ceramic goods that all offer something a little extra special. Karin has worked with dressing public spaces and her work stands out and assumes its position in a creative way. Both her stoneware and porcelain are eye-catching. karinmeijer.se

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SKÄRVA GÅRD Every summer, Skärva Gård hosts an exhibition of several different artists. The gallery is located next to a beautiful nature reserve, which is reflected in the overall experience and is well worth a visit. In addition, there is an in-house vego shop to tantalise the taste buds. skarvagard.se

It’s no coincidence that Blekinge offers a rich art and culture scene. Here, creativity and creative works rooted in the sea and nature thrive and combine with history from a bygone era.

COLOUR

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TINGSHUSET in Sölvesborg offers an architectural look back at the acclaimed architect Gunnar Asplund. Here, and adjacent to the building, you’ll find the Sölvesborg art association, which regularly exhibits beautiful and visitor-friendly art. Artist Ludvig Ödman’s dressing of the public areas of Tingshuset as part of its fitting-out are well worth a look.

MALIN MENA and her studio in glass can be found in the abandoned old water tower just outside Nättraby. Just outside the door you’ll find a Japanese garden, and inside the brick wall is a collection of glass art that smashes all preconceptions. malinmena.se

KULTURCENTRUM in Ronneby can be found in the old Kockum enamel works. Kulturcentrum is a hub and meeting place that’s also home to one of southern Sweden’s largest art galleries, where world-class exhibitions are held year after year. ronneby.se/uppleva--gora/kultur

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Art that captivates you.

HALEWIJN BULCKAEN is a Swedish-Belgian designer who creates unique jewellery. Everything is handmade, with influences from Scandinavian nature. You’ll find the shop in Karlskrona, right next to the sea. atelierhalewijn.com

PLAYFUL

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Blekinge is a paradise for children.

MINIGOLF WITH A HISTORICAL TWIST Dragsö Camping in Karlskrona boasts a mini golf course like no other. Here you can pitch and putt on an adventure golf course surrounded by a miniature version of the Karlskrona World Heritage Site. You’ll find wooden figures of Rosenbom, King Karl XI, and a raft of famous buildings like Kungsholm fort, Repslagarbanan, and Grevagården. The course has 18 holes and is perfect for the whole family to enjoy.

NAVAL MUSEUM - FULL OF EXCITEMENT How would you like to go onboard a submarine? How does it smell and sound? At the Naval Museum in Karlskrona, you’ll experience the mythical life in the depths of the ocean. Children and adults alike can have a go at the hands-on stations and learn more about the fascinating history of submarines, as well as learn more about what was once top secret. How exciting!

KREATIVUM SCIENCE CENTER At Kreativum Science Center in Karlshamn, kids and kids at heart can revel in trying their hand at 170 hands-on stations. Kreativum is home to five different discovery squares, each with a different theme. Outdoors there is Kreapark with stations, tunnels, and some rather mischievous fountains. Here you can fill an entire day with exciting activities that you won’t forget in a hurry! Are you interested in animals and nature? Then make sure you visit Blekinge Exotiska Värld with animals from five continents. Here you’ll find everything from crocodiles to monkeys and poisonous snakes. Altogether there are more than 80 different exotic animals just a stone’s throw from the entrance of Kreativum. An exciting end to a creative day!

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Olofström Fishing Paradise

Many people who visit Olofström do so to fish. With 237 named lakes as well as the Mörrum and Holje rivers, there’s fishing to suit everyone.

TROUT, PIKE, RAINBOW TROUT, PERCH, salmon, zander, or tench? Jetty, boat, canoe, or fishing kayak? Whatever you want to fish, and wherever you want to fish from - the choice is yours!

Several of our fishing destinations offer exciting experience packages and can be combined with good food and drink. If you need somewhere easy and comfortable to relax after a long day of fishing, book a slot at a wood-fired barrel bath or sauna.

Why not develop your fishing skills or have a personal guide with you while you fish? Jacob Lexe, Jonas Andersson, and Markus Zimmer are some of the fishing guides who can let you in on their fishing “secrets”.

Fishing guide Jacob Lexe gives his advice on three unique fishing spots:

• Orlunden with its unique environment and challenging fishing (pike, perch)

• Flugströmmen in Harasjömåla (rainbow trout)

• The “calm” waters of the Mörrum river by Ebbamåla Bruk (salmon, sea trout, pike, perch)

Where the fish bite in Olofström:

Harasjömåla

harasjomalafiskecamp.com

Brokamåla

brokamala.se

Mörrum river FVO morrumsansfvo.se Farabol FVO farabol.se/Turism-fiske.html Holje river FVO holjean.se Multi-fishing pass visitblekinge.se/fiske-i-olofstrom Markus Zimmer facebook.com/Markus-Zimmer-EventsFishing Jonas Andersson blekingefiskeguide.com

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The mill town where culture thrives!

Olofström has a tradition of writing, exciting museums, and cultural monuments. Here is an outlet for your thirst for knowledge and your cultural dreams in the most beautiful surroundings.

THE WIFE OF ARTIST CARL ELDH (1873-1954), Elisa, had her childhood home in Ebbamåla. Thanks to a donation, you can enjoy some of Eldh’s sculptures at different locations around the municipality of Olofström.

All of Eldh’s outdoor artwork in the municipality has been equipped with QR codes. Download a QR reader to your smartphone and scan the QR code to be taken to a website where you can find out more about the specific piece you’re looking at.

Around the municipality you’ll find a number of additional works by artists such as Ingrid Enarsson, Mattias Olsson, and Anja Roemer, who created Lightchamber, which also features a QR code.

More museums in the municipality of Olofström:

• Stone museum in Vilshult

• Aron Bergs Museum

• Gränums Bränneri

• Ebbamåla mill

• Kyrkhult rural culture centre

• Author museum in Jämshög

• Kärrabol chainsaw museum

BUILT BY WRITERS - A CRADLE OF GREATNESS. “The most important things I’ve learned, I’ve learned from novels,” Barack Obama said a year or two ago. The municipality of Olofström is the cradle of some of our most influential authors. Nobel laureate Harry Martinson is the best known. Sven Edvin Salje and Pehr Thomasson also come from the area.

Jämshög is home to a writer’s museum that portrays the lives of Martinson and Salje. Martinson, who was far ahead of his time with his environmental criticism, has enjoyed a second wave of popularity in recent years, not least with his space epic Aniara, which has its Swedish film premiere in 2019.

Author Pehr Thomasson (1818-1883) was born in Jämshög and his texts were considered to be so important that at the end of his life he collected a state pension. Opposite Petrusgården in Jämshög is a memorial to Thomasson.

FROM COAT HANGER MUSEUM TO STONE MUSEUM. Immerse yourself in Olofström’s history by visiting a museum! In Holje Park you can visit one of Sweden’s “strangest museums” according to an article in Aftonbladet – namely Olofström’s coat hanger and camera museum. You’ll be amazed at how much history can be crammed into a coat hanger, and you’re sure to fondly recognise your first camera. Make sure to also visit the Olofström rural culture centre and Konstlängan when you visit the park, which offer great exhibitions in the summer.

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Experiences to remember

Visit Olofström had the opportunity to join a group of people who spent a relaxing day enjoying a variety of activities. Like many others, they had booked an experience package at Snärjeskogen in Olofström in beautiful Blekinge.

IT WAS COMING UP TO LUNCH and the group of twelve checked into the cottages that were ready and waiting for them, heated, cleaned, and with crisp fresh bedding.

After they’d checked in, a pre-ordered lunch was waiting for them in Grillhyddan, right next to the beautiful stream that passes through the area.

Once they’d finished lunch, a walk through the forest was on the agenda, despite the windy, chilly weather. It was certainly nice to be back in the warm after a four to five kilometre jaunt around the troll forest among wetlands and wild animals!

The taxi bus was ready to leave for Röshult, which is located in the north of Olofström. At Röshults Vedugnsbageri there’s an old-fashioned wood oven bakery, where the group tested their skills baking bread and making pizza under the guidance and supervision of talented bakers. After a few hours of baking, learning, and laughing, the taxi returned with the bakers and their bread.

Once back in Snärjeskogen, an evening of food and whiskey tasting awaited. Of course, the group enjoyed the bread they had made together with the bouef bourguignon simmering in the cast iron pot.

“Being in this environment in the peace and quiet, with the scent of the forest and good food and drink, gives me a sense harmony I won’t forget in a hurry,” said one of the guests, Kajsa Lindh.

The evening ended with a dip in the wood-fired barrel baths. For the more courageous, this was followed by a dip in the river next door.

The next morning a full day of canoeing was planned on Blekinge’s largest lake, Lake Halen. Snacks and goodies were packed into the canoes, and an enjoyable lunch awaited at Fritzatorpet restaurant.

Would you like to book an experience package? Several accommodation outlets in the municipality offer experience packages. Just ask when booking and they’ll help you.

Sweden’s Southernmost Wilderness is a project co-funded by:

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Welcome to Sweden’s most beautiful and best-located campsites. With a large selection of activities and attractions, we promise that there is something for everyone, big and small.

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