Day 1 - Växjö - Hovmantorp - Bergdala - Strömbergshyttan - Skruv - Johansfors - Kosta
Departing from Växjö, stop at the crystal factories at Hovmantorp, Bergdala, Strömbergshyttan and Skruv. From Skruv follow the road to Johansfors and then up to Kosta to see the famous SEA and Kosta-Boda glassworks. Overnight in Kosta.
Day 2 - Kosta - Målerås - Orrefors - Nybro - Långasjö - Kalmar
Drive to Målerås, then the world-famous Orrefors glassworks before stopping at Nybro, one of the newer glassworks, famous for their crystal blocks. Also of interest in this area is the old farm at Långasjö made famous in the movie “The Emigrants”. In Kalmar visit medieval Kalmar castle, and the Kalmar County Museum. Overnight in Kalmar
Day 3 - Kalmar - Gettlinge - Ottenby - Eketorp - Gärdslösa - Borgholm
Cross the bridge to explore the island of Öland, stopping at the grave fields of Gettlinge, the 18th Century aluminum factory ruins at Degerhamn and the King Karl X wall at Grönhögen, which crosses the southern part of Öland. Visit the Ottenby National Reserve and the “Långe Jan” lighthouse. Also visit Eketorp, a reconstructed pre-Viking fort and museum, from 300 AD. See the local church at Gärdslösa with decorations and frescoes from several different centuries. Travel to Borgholm, the main city of the island. Overnight in Borgholm.
Day 4 - Öland and Småland
See the Borgholm castle ruins, which by the turn of the 14th century, was the largest fort in Scandinavia. Near the castle ruins is the summer home of the Swedish King and Queen. Travel back to the mainland and continue north along the Baltic Sea Coast to Oskarshamn to visit the large woodcarving collection of Axel Pettersson. Overnight in Oskarshamn.
** Or from Kalmar you may start with Day 4 of tour #4 - Skåne to Stockholm. You would skip the Crystal Kingdom stops.
Day 5 - Oskarshamn - Söderköping - Trosa - Stockholm
Continue north towards Stockholm along the Baltic Sea Coast. Perhaps stop at some of the coastal villages here on the East Coast of Sweden. Pass over the Göta Canal at Söderköping and take time to stop at the famous resort at Söderköping to watch the boats go by. Continue towards Stockholm stopping at the idyllic village of Trosa called by the Swedes “the end of the world”. It is just a one hour drive into Stockholm, but perhaps you would like to stop at Tullgarns Castle before continuing to Stockholm. Overnight in Stockholm “The Venice of the North”. |
