3 Best Sights in Kalmar, The South and the Kingdom of Glass

The highlight of this museum is the exhibit of the remains of the royal warship Kronan, which sank in battle off Öland in 1676. Of the 850 people on board, only 42 survived. Since the wreck was discovered in 1980, more than 35,000 objects including cannons, wood sculptures, old coins, and a variety of items belonging to the ship’s ill-fated crew have been raised from the seabed—many of them astonishingly well preserved thanks to the low salt content and oxygen-poor environment of the Baltic Sea. Another permanent exhibition focuses on the Kalmar-born artist Jenny Nyström, famous for her paintings of gnomes.

Kalmar’s top attraction is the imposing Kalmar Castle, which sits on a small island facing the downtown and the harbor. Begun as a defense tower in the 1100s and expanded over the following century, it held an important strategic position along what was then the border between Sweden and Denmark. In 1397, the castle was the site of one of the most significant events in medieval Scandinavian history, the establishment of the Kalmar Union, which joined Sweden, Norway, and Denmark under one crown. The castle was rebuilt by the Vasa kings during the 16th century and is today the best-preserved Renaissance castle in northern Europe. It contains a number of well-preserved chambers, as well as interesting displays on the castle’s development and Kalmar’s importance in Swedish history.

This highly impressive building was designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Elder in 1660 in the Italian baroque style. Inside, the massive open spaces create stunning light effects. Concerts are held in the cathedral, often free or for a small donation, spanning styles from organ and choir music to jazz.