Southern Sweden Highlights

From Herring City to Bridge CityMalmö was a Danish trading city in the Middle Ages, sustained by herring fishing. The brick Gothic of Sankt Petri kyrka dates from this era, and the merchant houses around Lilla Torg from the following centuries of Danish rule. In 1658, the city fell to Sweden. In the 20th century, the Kockums shipyard shaped the cityscape until civil shipbuilding ended in 1986. With the Öresund Bridge (2000) and the redevelopment of the shipyard area into Västra Hamnen, Malmö reinvented itself.Cultural LifeModerna Museet Malmö and the Konsthall showcase contemporary art, while Malmö Live Konserthus presents classical and pop music. In August, the Malmöfestivalen city festival transforms the city centre for a week into an open-air stage with free admission.

A Medieval Trading TownYstad emerged in the Middle Ages as a trading post under Danish rule, thriving on herring fishing and Baltic Sea trade. Dating from this period are the Marienkirche on Stortorget, whose oldest part dates back to the early 13th century, and the Franziskanerkloster Gråbrödraklostret from 1267, one of the best-preserved monasteries in the country and now home to the city museum. From the tower of the Marienkirche, a town crier has blown his horn every quarter of an hour from evening until midnight since 1748, a tradition that harks back to the old fire watch. Ystad has belonged to Sweden since 1658. The many half-timbered houses, including the Pilgrändshuset from 1480, one of the oldest half-timbered houses in Scandinavia, show how prosperous the town was for centuries.Crime Fiction SettingYstad gained worldwide fame through the novels by Henning Mankell featuring Inspector Kurt Wallander, who investigates here. The Swedish and British film adaptations are set in Ystad and its surroundings, and the visitor center next to the film studios features a Wallander exhibition. Many visitors follow the book's locations through the old town.

A City for the FleetAfter Blekinge was ceded to Sweden in 1658, the Swedish government planned to relocate the bulk of its fleet further south from the Stockholm area. In November 1679, Karl XI designated Trossö as the site, and in 1680, the city named after him received its municipal charter. The planned city, with its wide streets, squares, and sightlines, embodies Baroque ideals. The Fredrikskyrkan (consecrated 1744) and the Trefaldighetskyrkan on Stortorget are based on designs by Nicodemus Tessin the Younger. The wooden Admiralitetskyrkan was consecrated in 1685, its timber sourced from Riga. In front of it stands a copy of the painted wooden figure Gubben Rosenbom, a collection box brought to life by Selma Lagerlöf in "Nils Holgersson"; the original is now in the church.World Heritage and NavyIn 1998, UNESCO inscribed Karlskrona onto the World Heritage List as an exceptionally well-preserved example of a planned European naval city. This includes, besides the Old Town, the shipyard, the fortresses of Kungsholms fort and Drottningskär at the bay's entrance, further fortifications on smaller islands, and the Kronmühle in Lyckeby. The navy continues to shape the city to this day; many areas are only accessible with a guided tour. The Marinmuseum on Stumholmen tells the history of the Swedish fleet with ship models, figureheads, and a submarine hall.

The Castle and the Kalmar UnionAround 1180, a round defensive tower with a harbour was built on Kalmarsund. In the late 13th century, King Magnus Ladulås had a fortress with a curtain wall and corner towers built around it. In 1397, the Kalmar Union was established here, uniting Denmark, Norway, and Sweden under a single crown until 1523. Under the Vasa kings Gustav I, Erik XIV, and Johan III, the fortress was transformed into a Renaissance castle.New Town on KvarnholmenDuring the Kalmar War from 1611 to 1613, Danish troops besieged the castle. From the mid-17th century, the new town developed on Kvarnholmen, its centrepiece being the Baroque Cathedral by Nicodemus Tessin the Elder, built from 1660 to 1703. The Kalmar läns museum displays finds from the warship Kronan, which exploded and sank off the southern tip of Öland on June 1, 1676.

Iron Age and Agricultural LandscapeÖland was already densely populated in the Iron Age. Evidence of this includes burial grounds, runestones, and ringforts like Eketorp, Ismantorp, and Sandby borg, where archaeologists found traces of a raid from the late 5th century. The agricultural landscape in the south of the island, with its villages along the western edge, stone walls, and the Stora Alvaret, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2000. It shows how people adapted to the sparse conditions over approximately 5,000 years.Windmills, Royal Residence, and Harvest FestivalThe wooden post windmills are the symbol of the island; numerous ones are preserved, some dating back to the 17th century. The royal family spends its summers at Solliden near Borgholm, and on July 14th, Crown Princess Victoria's birthday is publicly celebrated in Borgholm. At the end of September, the island invites visitors to the Skördefest, a large harvest festival featuring farms, markets, and handicrafts, from September 25th to 27th in 2026.

Bishopric and EmigrationVäxjö has been a bishopric since the late 12th century; its cathedral, originally a stone church, dates mainly from around 1300. Missionary Sigfrid, revered as the Apostle of Småland, is the city's patron saint. From 1846 to 1930, many locals left their farms, emigrating to North America. The House of Emigrants (Swedish Emigrant Institute since 1965) recounts this history, runs a genealogy archive, and features writer Vilhelm Moberg and his novel series The Emigrants.Glass and MuseumsSmåland Museum and the Swedish Glass Museum are housed in Kulturpark Småland next to the train station. The exhibition showcases centuries of glass art, providing a great prelude to visiting the glassworks east of the city.

Danish HeritageHalmstad has been a town since 1307 and was considered the largest town on Halland's west coast during the Middle Ages. From 1598, a fortress was built, enclosing the center from the castle in the south to Norre Katt Park in the north. Its northern town gate, the Norre port, still stands today. Danish King Christian IV commissioned the castle, which was completed in 1619. In August 1645, Halmstad became Swedish; today, the provincial governor resides in the castle, and its gardens are freely accessible.Church and Old TownSt. Nikolai kyrka on Stora Torg dates from the 14th century and is known for its stained-glass windows; the large windows were created by Einar Forseth. Half-timbered houses are preserved around the church. The square also features Carl Milles' fountain Europa and the Bull.The Halmstad GroupIn 1929, six artists, including brothers Axel and Erik Olson, formed the Halmstad Group here, Sweden's first Surrealists. Their works are exhibited at Mjellby Konstgård, approximately three kilometers northwest of the center. The Museet i Halmstad by the river showcases painted tapestries and living spaces from the 17th to 19th centuries.