Sweden's southernmost wilderness - Olofstr\u00F6m

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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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 pearls of Sweden’s southernmost wilderness

Few places in the world can offer what Olofström does. We all have our own ideas about what makes a place a real gem. Here are just a few favourites.

VALHALL is not just a mythical place but it’s also a beautiful lookout point. The Valhall Ättestupa is a cliff face 40 metres high located 99 metres above sea level and with a drop straight down into Lake Orlunden. Here you’ll find a seating area and a place for a barbecue. Lake Orlunden is surrounded by beautifully unspoilt beech and oak forests. Legend says that you are taken back to the time of the old Asatron, when Valkyries retrieved fallen heroes and took them to Valhall. The Ättestupa was, as the old wives tale goes, where you made your final journey on this earth.

LAKE HALEN is Blekinge’s largest lake and its surrounding area offers plenty to do. You can enjoy hiking areas, bridleways, canoeing adventures, fishing, swimming, sauna rafting, activities, accommodation, and food. The Halen area is the focal point for many visitors to Olofström. Many favourite spots in Blekinge are within easy reach of here.

GOLF Boa GK in Olofström offers a fantastic golfing experience in the breathtaking natural surroundings of Blekinge - the garden of Sweden. Boa is an interesting and challenging park course, carefully built in a naturally hilly and very scenic landscape. Always good access all year round.

CITYBRYGGAN & STORLEKPLATSEN Children are at the heart of everything in Olofström, which is why we have a huge playground - Storlekplatsen - right in the centre of town. Storlekplatsen is like no other playground. Here you’ll find exciting attractions for children aged 1 to 15. Walk along the Troll Trail, climb the cobwebs, or splash about in the water of the Holje river that flows nearby. Want to relax instead? Head down to the Citybryggan promenade. Buy a coffee at one of the nearby fika joints, find yourself a place on the promenade, and enjoy the sunshine. It might be the best cup of coffee you’ve ever had.

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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: