Holiday apartment in Vimmerby – Astrid Lindgren, history and nature

Vimmerby combines the world of Astrid Lindgren with a remarkably multifaceted urban history, as well as water, cycling and nature experiences. Between historic squares, ancient burial grounds and the area surrounding the municipality of Vimmerby are places where stories, landscapes and regional culture come together in different ways.

Culture

The Näktergalen City Museum is a cultural history museum in Vimmerby. It is housed in an 18th-century wooden building whose ceilings and walls feature original Baroque paintings. At the same time, the museum is located in a listed building between Vimmerby Church and Stora Torget.

The historic centre of Vimmerby is also characterised by alleyways and cobbled streets around the square, Storgatan and Båtsmansbacken. The market square has existed since 1604, when Vimmerby regained its town privileges under Charles IX. Källängsparken is also located in the centre: a unique park from the 1950s that was listed as a historic monument in 2010.

History

A church in Vimmerby has been documented since at least the mid-13th century. The baptismal font in Vimmerby Church dates from the late 12th century. The present-day Vimmerby Church was rebuilt on the same site and inaugurated on 4 September 1859.

In Gästgivarehagen there is a well-preserved stone cist from the Neolithic period. The two burial grounds there comprise around 300 graves in total. They were used approximately from the transition between the 7th and 8th centuries until the construction of Vimmerby’s first church, which took place in the late 12th or early 13th century. Archaeological finds from Gästgivarehagen indicate that Vimmerby’s Vikings had extensive trade contacts oriented towards the east.

Astrid Lindgren

Astrid Lindgren’s Näs is a visitor attraction in Vimmerby, in the area where Astrid Lindgren grew up. The gardens of Astrid Lindgren’s Näs form a garden park inspired by Astrid Lindgren’s life and works. Astrid Lindgren’s childhood home in Näs is a private residence and can only be visited as part of a guided tour.

Astrid Lindgren’s Värld is Sweden’s largest open-air theatre. Performances based on stories by Astrid Lindgren take place there every day; many of them include singing, music and dancing. Astrid Lindgren’s Värld also features recognisable settings from the stories of Pippi, Emil and other characters created by Astrid Lindgren.

Astrid Lindgren’s statue stands in Vimmerby’s main square, Stora Torget. Opposite it is a chair where visitors can sit. The statue was unveiled on 1 June 2007, one century after Astrid Lindgren’s birth. Astrid Lindgren is buried in Vimmerby Cemetery together with her parents Hanna and Samuel August and two siblings.

Nature and activities

Nossen is a bathing area in Vimmerby’s built-up area with large lawns and a sandy beach. Water activities such as canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding and pedal boating are available at Nossen.

The cycling routes in Vimmerby pass through varied woodland and cultural landscapes, mainly along gravel and forest roads that are usually free of cars. The cycling loops in Vimmerby are between 9 and 50 kilometres long. The cycling routes near the town of Vimmerby are different: they are between 9 and 21 kilometres long and run as far as possible along gravel and forest roads.

Norra Kvill National Park is one of two national parks in Vimmerby Municipality. In the area of Vimmerby Municipality, Norra Kvill National Park offers hiking trails through coniferous forest with moss-covered boulders and mysterious small ponds. From the highest point, Idhöjden, views extend across large parts of the area.

Getting there and surroundings

Regional bus services run from Vimmerby Travel Centre to, among other places, Storebro, Hultsfred, Rumskulla, Ydrefors, Eksjö, Nässjö, Gullringen, Södra Vi, Djursdala, Snokebo, Backa and Kisa. In Vimmerby, Vimmerby Spritfabrik offers gin tastings and guided distillery tours.

Other places at this destination level include Vimmerby, Pelarne, Solnehult and Tuna.

To the higher-level travel overview: Kalmar.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Högsby.