Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A BEGGAR'S TALE
Outside the entrance to Kungliga Amiralitetskyrkan, take a look at one of the city's best-known
landmarks: the wooden statue of
Rosenbom
, around which hangs a sorrowful tale. Mats
Rosenbom, one of the first settlers on Trossö island, lived nearby with his family and earned his
keep in the shipyard. However, after a fever killed six of his children and left him and his wife
too ill to work, he applied for, and was granted, a beggar's licence. One New Year's Eve, while
begging at the homes of leading townspeople, he became somewhat drunk from the festive
wine on offer and forgot to raise his hat to thank the wealthy German figurehead carver, Fritz
Kolbe. When admonished for this, Rosenbom retorted, “If you want thanks for your crumbs to
the poor, you can take my hat off yourself!” Enraged, Kolbe struck him between the eyes and
sent him away, but the beggar, unable to make it home, froze stiff and died in a snowdrift by
the church. Next morning, Kolbe found the beggar frozen to death and, filled with remorse,
carved a figure of Rosenbom which stands at the spot where he died. It's designed so that you
have to raise his hat yourself to give some money.
6
Blekingemuseum
Borgmästaregatan 21 • June-Aug daily 10am-6pm; Sept-May Tues-Sun 11am-5pm, Wed until 7pm • Free
The provincial collections housed within the rather dreary
Blekingemuseum
down at
the harbourfront, especially when compared to Karlskrona's other treasures, are
unlikely to set your pulse racing. Housed in the 1705 wooden home built for Count
Wachtmeister, it's the pleasant summertime café that's infinitely more appealing than
the exhibits on shipbuilding and the like.
Konsthall
Arts Centre • Borgmästaregatan 17 • Tues-Sun noon-5pm, Wed till 7pm • Free •
W
karlskrona.se/konsthall
Just behind the Blekingemuseum, housed in the town's striking former cinema, the
new
Konsthall
is the place to look for temporary exhibitions of modern art as well as
occasional dance and music productions.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
KARLSKRONA
By train
The train station is 200m north of Hoglands Park.
To travel to and from Kalmar by train, change at Emmaboda.
Destinations
Copenhagen via Kastrup airport (hourly; 3hr
30min); Emmaboda (hourly; 45min); Kristianstad (hourly;
1hr 40min); Malmö (hourly; 2hr 50min).
By ferry
The Stena Line ferry to and from Gdynia (just
outside Gdansk; 10hr 30min), sails once daily from
Verkövägen 101, 10km from Karlskrona centre; see
W
stenaline.se for details of transport to the port.
INFORMATION
Tourist o
ce
Stortorget 2, just behind Frederikskyrkan
(June-Aug daily 9am-8pm; Sept-May Mon-Fri 9am-6pm,
Sat 10am-4pm;
T
0455 30 34 90,
W
karlskrona.se/tourism).
A 10min stroll from the train station, with internet access.
ACCOMMODATION
Aston
Landbrogatan 1
T
0455 194 70,
W
hotellaston
.se.
This comfortable place has been redecorated using
modern furniture and classic fittings and the result is
simple elegance. Over the years it's been popular with
ships' crews whilst their boats were b
eing refitted -
photographs of this period adorn the walls.
895kr/1195kr
Clarion Collection Carlscrona
Skeppsbrokajen
T
0455 36 15 00,
W
choice.se.
A great hotel close to the
station in a contemporary glass-fronted building. Rooms
are well appointed and decked out with specially
commissioned maritime and historical wallpapers - a
really nice touch. The w
eekend and su
mmer prices are
exceptionally good value.
770kr/1380kr
First Statt
Ronnebygatan 37
T
0455 555 50,
W
firsthotels.se.
The Empire-style rooms in this 1890
building on the main shopping street are stylish in the
extreme and at these prices it's hard to go wr
ong. Note this
is cheaper than the other First hotel in town.
705kr/961kr
Scandic Karlskrona
Skeppsgossegatan 2
T
0455 37
20 00.
Beautifully situated on the edge of Fisktorget
