Karlskrona Tourist Attractions
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The smallest Swedish province (area 2,941sq.km/1,136sq.mi), Blekinge lies in the south of the country on the Baltic, at the entrance to the Kalmarsund.
Karlskrana - Stortorget
In Karlskrona's central square, Stortorget, stands a statue of Charles XI (by Börjesson, 1897). Around the square are the neo-classical Town Hall, the Baroque Frederikskyrka (1774) and the round Trinity Church (1709). Both churches were designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Younger. A colorful flower market is held in the square four days before Midsummer's Eve, when garlands and bouquets of flowers from the hillsides and meadows of Blekinge are sold.
Fisktorget
To the west of Karlskrona's Stortorget, on Fisktorget (Fishmarket Square), is the Blekinge Museum (regional history and culture), with a Baroque-style garden on the terrace. Farther west lies the Björkholmen district, with picturesque little wooden seamen's houses. This is the old dockyard area (conducted tours in summer). To the north of Fisktorget, moored at the Borgmästarekaj, is the former training ship "Jarramas", now a restaurant. In Amiralitetstorget is a bell-tower.
Maritime Museum
South from Fisktorget the Maritime Museum houses a collection which includes carved figureheads from 17th century vessels and original ship models.
Admiralty Church
On the edge of the Karlskrona dockyard area is the Admiralty Church (1685), the largest wooden church in Sweden. In front of it can be seen an appealing wooden figure of "Old Rosenbom", a character in Selma Lagerlöf's book "The Wonderful Adventures of Nils".
Surroundings
Ramdala
Southeast of Karlskrona we come to Ramdala, with a 13th century church. At Möckleryd is the site known as Hästhallen ("Horse's Hall"), with rock carvings. The promontory of Torhamns Udde is the haunt of large numbers of birds, particularly in autumn when the migrants pause here.
Kristianopel
A side road off E 66, north of Karlskrona, leads to the little coastal town of Kristianopel, founded in 1600 by the Danish king Christian IV, which preserves parts of its old town walls. Highlights include the Church from 1624, with stepped gables and the picturesque old houses.
Olofström
From Kristianopel a long-distance trail (Blekingeleden) goes to Olofström in western Blekinge. At Brömsebro, on the boundary between Blekinge and Småland, is a stone commemorating the peace of 1645 between Denmark and Sweden. There are ruins of the Danish fortress of Brömsehus.
Hjortahammar
West of Karlskrona is the Hjortahammar cemetery area. There are also numerous prehistoric remains around Johannishus, the largest manor house in Blekinge, built in 1772 in French Renaissance style.
Ronneby
28km/17mi west of Karlskrona lies the town of Ronneby (pop. 29,000). In the 19th century this was a much-frequented spa, with a chalybeate spring first discovered in 1705. The old spa hotel has now given place to the Ronneby Brunn hotel and conference complex.The park in Ronneby, "Brunnsparken", was named Sweden's most beautiful park in 2005.
Holy Cross Church
Holy Cross Church (Heliga Korskyrka) in Ronneby, which dates from the 11th century, has frescoes of the 15th/16th century, brought to light during restoration work. In the church is a door bearing the marks of burning and axe-strokes, believed to date from 1564, when Eric XIV's forces took Ronneby and massacred the inhabitants. Near the church, in the Bergslagen district, can be found a local museum, Möllebackagården.
Djupadal - Blekinge Farmhouse
On the Ronnebyå, 3km/2mi downstream from Ronneby at Djupadal, is a gorge 16m/52ft deep but only 1.5m/5ft wide. Here, in a typical old Blekinge farmhouse, is a restaurant. From the picturesque skerry-fringed coast there are boat trips to the island of Karö.
Göljahult - Flower Garden
30km/19mi north of Ronneby is the Flower Garden (Blomstergården) of Göljahult (Eringsboda). In the garden, originally private but now open to the public, are a variety of pieces of sculpture, some of them on fairytale themes.
Karlshamn
Karlshamn (pop. 31,000), which received its municipal charter in 1664, is now a modern port and industrial town, with the largest vegetable oil and margarine plants in Scandinavia. On the way there from Karlskrona (E 22) a detour should be made to the coast with its fringe of skerries, popular for swimming.
Kastelholm
On the island of Kastelholm, off the mouth of the harbor, are fortifications dating from 1675. On the east side of the town extends the Väggapark. To the west, on the river Mörrumså (salmon fishing), is the village of Mörrum, with a salmon aquarium.
Old Town
In the old part of Karlshamn are wooden buildings of the 17th and 18th centuries, including the Asschierska Hus, built in 1682 as the town hall, and the Skottsberska Gård, a well preserved merchant's house of about 1760. The Smithska Gård now houses a museum.
Baltic Sea Festival
This annual weekend festival takes place in mid-July. Musical concerts, yacht races, food stalls and open-air dance performances are only some of the events offered throughout the weekend.
Emigrants Kristina and Karl Oskar
In Karlshamn's Hamnpark can be seen a monument by Axel Olsson, "The Emigrants Kristina and Karl Oskar", recalling Karlshamn's role as the port from which many Swedes emigrated to America in the 18th century.
Karlshamn Golf Week
Karlshamn Golf Week is held in June.
Solvesborg
The smallest, but also the oldest, town in Blekinge is Sölvesborg (pop. 16,000), on the borders of Skåne. With its narrow streets and low houses, it has preserved its small-town charm. Features of interest are the parish church of St Nicholas (14th C.), with 15th century wall paintings, and a well-preserved runic stone, Stentoftestenen, located inside. Gammelgården, originally a poorhouse, is now a museum, displaying objects recovered by excavation.
Hällevik
Southeast of Sölvesborg is the seaside resort of Hällevik. From Nogersund there are boat services to the island of Hanö, with a British cemetery - a reminder of the days during the Napoleonic wars (1810-12) when a British squadron was based on Hanö.
