Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
& Bridge to Öland
KALMAR
CAFÉS, BARS & RESTAURANTS
Athena
Calmar Hamnkrog
Hanssons krog
Källaren Kronan
Krögers
Kullzénska Caféet
Larmgatan 10
Ming Palace
Stekhuset
Thai Silk Palace
5
10
4
8
6
3
7
1
9
2
Bus Station
KVARN-
HOLMEN
6
STOR
TORGET
Water tower
Kronan Exhibition
(at Kalmar Läns muséet)
Domkyrkan
S O DRA
V Ä G EN
LILLA
TORGET
LARM-
TORGET
AT
Train
Station
GAMLA
N
Bus Station
(to Öland)
STAN
Gamla
Kyrkogården
City Park
Stadsparken
Konstmuseum
ACCOMMODATION
Best Western Kalmarsund
Calmar Stadshotell
Clarion Collection Packhuset
Frimurarehotellet
Slottshotellet
Stensö Camping
Svanen
2
3
6
4
5
7
1
Kalmar
Slott
0
200
Sodra Kyrkogården
& Mosaiska Kyrkogården
metres
Stensö Island &
Kalmar Slott and around
Kungsgatan 1 • May, June & Sept daily 10am-4pm; July daily 10am-6pm; Aug daily 10am-5pm; Oct Sat & Sun 11am-3.30pm; guided
tours in English 11.30am, 1.30pm & 2.30pm • 80kr •
W
kalmarslott.kalmar.se
Beautifully set on its own island, just south of Stadsparken, is the castle,
Kalmar Slott
.
Its foundations were probably laid in the twelfth century; a century later, it became the
best-defended castle in Sweden under King Magnus Ladulås. Today, if the castle doesn't
appear to be defending anything in particular, that's because a devastating fire in the
1640s laid waste to Gamla Stan, after which Kalmar was moved to its present site on
Kvarnholmen.
Brief history
The most significant event to take place within the castle's walls was when the Danish
Queen Margareta instigated the
Union of Kalmar
in 1397, which made her ruler over
all Scandinavia, but given the level of hatred between the Swedes and Danes, the
union didn't stand much chance of long-term success. The castle was subject to eleven
sieges
as the two rival nations took power in turn; surprisingly, it remained almost
unscathed. By the time Gustav Vasa became king of Sweden in 1523, Kalmar Slott
was beginning to show signs of wear and tear, and so the king set about rebuilding it,
while his sons, who later became Eric XIV and Johan III, took care of decorating the
interior. The result, a fine Renaissance palace, is still preserved in fantastic detail today.
