Page 160 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sweden

158  SWEDEN AREA B Y AREA

Museum) has a superb collec-
tion of local maritime history.
Biologiska museet has a
botanical collection that focuses
mainly on Swedish plants.
Environs
Stensjö By is a cultural
museum showing how a village
looked in the 18th century.
Just under 40 km (25 miles)
west of Oskarshamn at Högsby
there is the Bråbygden nature
Picturesque red cottages on Båtsmansgränd in Västervik reserve and a permanent
exhibition about film star Greta
r Västervik t Oskarshamn Garbo, whose mother came
Småland. E22. * 36,000. £ @ ~ Småland. E22. * 26,000. £ @ from here.
n Rådhuset, Stora Torget, 0490-875 n Hantverksgatan 3, 0491-770 72.
20. _ Song Festival (Jul). _ Oskarshamn Harbour Festival E Döderhultarmuseet
∑ vastervik.com (end Jul). ∑ oskarshamn.com Hantverksgatan 18. Tel 0491-880 40.
Open daily. & 8 - = 7
Strategically sited at the mouth King Oskar I gave his name E Oskarshamns
of Gamlebyviken Bay, Västervik to this town, previously Sjöfartsmuseum
was the subject of frequent known as Döderhultsvik, Hantverksgatan 18. Tel 0491-880 40.
Danish attacks, despite which gained its charter in Open Mon–Sat (Jun–Aug: daily).
protection from the once 1856. Oskarshamn grew up & 8 - = 7
mighty fortress of Stegeholm. around the harbour and today E Biologiska museet
The last attack in 1677 destroyed is still an important place with Gyllings väg 9. Tel 0491-771 61.
the town. Rebuilt, it became a a lively seafaring industry. Open Tue–Fri. ∑ bimon.se
major seafaring centre. The area The old areas of Besväret and
known as Gamla Norr contains Fnyket have wooden 19th-
the oldest preserved houses in century houses and are ideal y Blå Jungfrun
Västervik, including Aspagården for a leisurely exploration on Småland. 20 km (12 miles) E of
and the former poor-house, foot. There are great views over Oskarshamn. 4 from Oskarshamn &
Cederflychtska Huset. the water and the island Blå Byxelkrok. n Oskarshamn Tourist
Västerviks Museum outlines Jungfrun from Långa Soffan, Office, 0491-770 72.
the history of the town. Part of an extra ordinarily long 72-m
the museum is in the open air (79-yd) bench built close to In the northern part of
with a nature exhibition and the harbour in 1867. Kalmarsund, the sound separa-
traditional buildings. The railway Oskarshamn has several ting the mainland from the
line was closed in 1984, but museums. On display at island of Öland, the national
train enthusiasts have reopened Döderhultarmuseet are the park Blå Jungfrun (the Blue
the 70-km (43-mile) stretch original wooden figures by Maiden) encompasses an
from Västervik to Hultfred, to sculptor Axel Petersson, also island about 800 m (875 yd)
preserve it as part of Sweden’s known as “Döderhultarn”, in diameter and the waters
industrial heritage. together with a description of surrounding it. Blå Jungfrun’s
The annual Folk Festival first his life in late-19th-century highest point is 86 m (282 ft)
took place in 1966 and has Småland. Oskarshamns above sea level, making it easily
since grown to become a Sjöfartsmuseum (Maritime visible from the mainland and
major event. It is held in the from Öland.
ruins of Stegeholm fortress. According to legend, the
Lunds By, just outside island is the site of Blåkulla,
Västervik, is the region’s oldest home of the witches, and is the
and best preserved village, subject of many a dark tale.
comprising eight small red Carl von Linné (see p134)
cottages around a square. described it as “horrible”.
It was chosen as a location Others have found it
to film Astrid Lindgren’s book romantic, including the poet
The Bullerby Children. Verner von Heidenstam, who
was married here in
E Västerviks Museum 1896. The island is
Kulbacken. Tel 0490-211 77. mainly bare pink
Open Jun–Aug: daily; Sep–May: An expressive carved wooden figure by “Döderhultarn” granite, polished
Mon–Fri, Sun. & 8 = Axel Petersson (1865–1925) smooth by ice and
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp285–6 and pp296–7

158-159_EW_Sweden.indd 158 11/07/16 11:49 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2)
Date 14th November 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm