Bromölla, Sweden

August 2017

Copenhagen Airport is the best option when travelling to the south of Sweden. You can catch the train right at the airport, and it takes only a couple of hours to Bromölla, passing by Malmö. An experience wrapped in the beauty of Scandinavian landscapes.
Bromölla is normally not the first choice when thinking of Sweden; in fact, not many people have heard of it. For us, it was an opportunity to experience Sweden beyond the tourist spots while visiting a very dear friend. 

Nestled in the picturesque landscapes of Skåne län, Bromölla is a hidden gem. This small town, only a few minutes' walk from Ivö Lake, offers a unique glimpse into a culture deeply rooted in tradition and community. 

Sunset at Ivö Lake (Ivösjön)

Ivö Lake is the largest and deepest lake in the region, covering an area of just under 55 km² and a maximum depth of 50 meters. The sunsets are breathtaking. 

Ivö Lake (Ivösjön)

Bromölla is home to around 8.100 inhabitants. It grew in the early 1900s from a small village near quarries into an industrial centre driven by manufacturing. The establishment of ceramics production and related factories accelerated the town's expansion and prosperity. It is well known for the old industrial manufacturer, Ifö, known for its toilets. Fun fact: you can buy tiny toilets in the souvenir shop.

Scanisaurus 

In the town's main square,  Ifö Square, you will see the stone fountain with two giant reptiles to represent the large amounts of fossils found in the area.
Scanisaurus was inaugurated in 1971, and consists of two Plesiosaurus that are said to be enjoying the sun on a cliff on the island of Ivö. 

 

 The smallest gallery in the world

Near the Scanisaurus fountain is the world's smallest gallery, Världens Minsta Galleri. It's an old telephone booth featuring a small black granite sculpture, and it draws attention to visitors to see its tiny display.

You can also find Sweden's smallest library next to the train station. It's also an old telephone booth turned into a library, which is very convenient for commuters. 

A large mural of a dinosaur skeleton painted on the facade of an old ceramic factory building

A very pretty area near the town centre and the playground

 Levra Lake (Levrasjön)

Sweden has almost 100 000 lakes, so you are never too far from a lake. They play a big role in Swedish culture and leisure, where they can easily connect with nature.
Levrasjön is a very nice lake near Bromölla, home to a waterski club and a perfect place to have a picnic and enjoy a swim. I must say, the water was too cold for my taste, but it was a very relaxed and pleasant day.
  

 Levrasjön Waterski Club

 

A highlight on the Swedish calendar is ‘kräftskiva’ (crayfish party), and we were so lucky to be part of it.

Crayfish

Kräftskiva is an annual seafood fest where families and friends get together in August to eat crayfish, drink, and sing merry songs to mark the end of summer.
A table set in the garden, adorned with cray-fish themed décor, paper hats, trays of cray-fish, side dishes and plenty drinks. And drinking songs! 

Yes, I ended up singing in Swedish, a language that I definitely do not speak! Not feeling the greatest on the next day.

Ivö island

A day at Ivö's largest island was a great way to have an improvised barbecue, as well as looking for fossils. We found plenty of fossils, but only brought home one very small one, our souvenir from Sweden.
We drove to Barum where  we took the free, cable-driven ferry, which operates on a regular schedule to the island.

Mushroom foraging 

 

We had amazing weather while in Sweden, except for one day with little rain. The perfect day to go mushroom foraging.
Mushroom foraging is very popular during late summer and autumn. The Swedish have this tradition, allemansrätte, which means the right of public access, allowing, with respect and leaving no trace, free picking in forests, like mushrooms, berries, etc.

We picked lots of Kanterell, a golden trumpet-shaped mushroom, then cleaned and prepared them deliciously in a Swedish recipe, and ate them piled up on thick slices of equally delicious bread.

 

Kanterell

Bruksusen

Just a short walk from the town centre is Bruksusen, a couple of rows of what remains of the settlement of former factory houses. It was built in 1905 for the workers of Ifö factory. The settlement consisted of around 30 houses, but there are only 8 houses left. The heritage association Ivetofta created a museum in one of the houses to show how workers lived in those times. The museum of an old village shop is located in another house.

Knäbäckshusen beach

 

Described as one of Sweden's most beautiful beaches, featuring white sand, shallow turquoise water, and lush, overhanging pine trees, is Knäbäckshusen beach, in eastern Skåne.

Going down the path to the beach, we encountered these pretty half-timbered houses, one of which is a chapel, and I believe they were old fish stalls.

  

Perched on Sweden's south-eastern tip is Österlen, an idyllic coastline with sandy beaches, quaint villages and apple orchards.

Kivik is a cosy little town with a pretty harbour, and home to Kiviks Musteri, the largest orchard in Sweden. Kiviks Musteri is well worth visiting, with its apple orchards, traditional craft of producing apple juice, cider and other apple-related foods. It also offers a cafe, restaurant and shop. 

 

Kivik harbour

Also in Österlen, is Sandhammaren Beach, a coastal treasure by the Baltic Sea. It's a beautiful stretch of white powdery sand and dunes, surrounded by pine forests. 

 

The area is known for its rolling hills, dramatic coastlines, and a high concentration of ancient, massive rock formations.

Maglesten

The Maglesten, or "large stone", is a glacial erratic stone, possibly brought here from hundreds of kilometres away by a glacier.

According to local Swedish tradition, the Maglesten served as a home or shelter for trolls, creating a sense of mystery in the surrounding landscape.

Another version of the legend claims that a troll threw the massive stone in an attempt to destroy the Åhus Church, located about 13 km away, missing the target.

 

My friend's garden and Leo, the friendliest pup

Good to know:

The Swedes love coffee. In fact, coffee (Fika) is something of a social institution in Sweden.
Fika is a Swedish tradition where you take time out of your day to pause and enjoy a cup of black coffee, sometimes accompanied by a snack. It's not just about savouring a good cup of coffee, it's giving yourself time for a break and socialising... several times a day.

While you can buy alcoholic drinks in bars and restaurants, if you want to enjoy a drink at home, the only legal option is to buy it from Systembolaget, a state-owned liquor store. Yes, the government has the monopoly of alcoholic drinks, probably one of the reasons alcohol in Sweden is so expensive.

 

Swedish water, particularly tap water, is well known for its exceptional quality, cleanliness and taste. So, it's very safe to drink tap water.

 
The Swedes are very environmentally aware; 99% of household waste is recycled or converted into energy.

 

When visiting someone, make sure you remove your shoes before entering the house. Not only is a sign of cleanliness but mostly respect for the host. 

Our trip to Sweden was a very memorable and diverse experience. But above all, it was a very warm and welcoming one!

Hej då