Öland

The VIDA Museum & Art-gallery is situated on route 136, nine kilometres south of Borgholm, Öland, with a beautiful hilltop setting, overlooking the waters of Kalmarsund. The present 2000 m2 building, in glass, concrete, iron and wood, lies on a historic site just north of the Halltorp Inn. At the time of its inaugural opening in June, 2001, the newly-built museum featured an art-gallery and two wings devoted, respectively, to the work of Ulrica Hydman-Vallien and that of Bertil Vallien. Here can be seen the entire range of their artistry, encompassing four decades. The most important starting-points from the early 1960s, to the very latest work in glass, ceramics, sculpture and painting are shown in the museum.

Eketorp fortress is a fully dug-out ancient fort, with reconstructed walls and houses at the very site of the archaeological finds. If you are interested in nature and culture, the fortress’ exciting history, archaeology and Alvar fauna will be just the thing for you.

The Royal Family's summer residence is located on Öland. Solliden’s Palace parkland is open for visitors 15/5 – 15/9. Open: Daily 11.00 am – 18.00 pm (gates close 17.00). ”Welcome to the beautiful park of Solliden with its luxuriant trees, shrubs and flowers. Solliden is a part of our cultural heritage, which is of special concern to me. It was built by my great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, and was completed in 1906. When my great-grandfather, Gustav V, died in 1950, I inherited the palace. It is my intention to preserve Solliden, so that future generations will be able to enjoy its unique and glorious gardens.” - Carl Gustaf -

Himmelsberga is Öland´s most genuine village and now preserved as an open air museum with enclosed farms built along both sides of the narrow village road. The heart of the museum consists of several large farms with buildnings daing back the 18 th and 19 th century. All the original furniture is still to be found in the cottage and, outside, in the old stables, can be seen all the tools and equipment that were used on the farms. The coffe shop sells freshly baked bread and hot pies and you can buy genuine Öland handicrafts in the village shop. Himmelsberga has exhibitions of arts and crafts in its two galleries, and there is also art museum with a collection of older and modern Öland paintings.

The lighthouse Långe Erik, located on the northern part of Öland, is 32 meter high and built of limestone. There are 138 steps to the balcony.

Paradis Workshop, a ceramic center with views of meadows and Kalmarsund Here, the visitor can enjoy a glass and ceramics are displayed in a light and open architecture surrounded by a beautiful garden.

In Skäftekärr, near Böda in the northern part of Öland, is an iron age village consisting of about 20 well preserved stonehouse foundations spread over approximately 10 yards dating from the period of 300-700 A.D. In the middle of the iron age village are the remains of a large farm consisting of four housefoundations. In the new iron age landscape, right next to the foundations, is a reconstruction of one of those houses and a fire ruin from a previously reconstructed house. Around the reconstucted yard there is a reconstructed iron age landscape with fenced fields, meadows, and pollarded trees. In the park grows about 140 different trees and bushes (arboretum). There are organized guided tours which are related to the site's more than 150-year history of forestry.