Emmaboda: Glass, Literature and Nature

The Municipality of Emmaboda is part of the Kingdom of Crystal. Its landscape encompasses forests, lakes, wetlands and farmland in a changing, human-shaped mosaic of woodland. From glass art and literary history to churches and trails, you’ll find a range of highlights for your trip.

Glass, Art and Literary History

The Glass Factory is an interactive glass museum in the Kingdom of Crystal. Its collection includes around 40,000 glass objects by some 50 artists, including holdings from the Boda, Kosta and Åfors glassworks. The program includes exhibitions, lectures, happenings, glass shows, theater performances and workshops; individual events may vary. In the Kingdom of Crystal, you can also see glass being made and buy glass directly from the production facility.

Duvemåla is associated with Vilhelm Moberg’s grandmother, who was born in 1833 and inspired him to create the character Kristina in his Emigrants novels. A visit to Rundqvistagården offers a glimpse of an earlier time, when self-sufficiency was part of everyday life. The site is open seasonally; check visiting options in advance. Moshultamåla gamla skola now houses a museum with a furnished classroom and a collection on Moberg’s literary work. Klasatorpet was a filming location for Jan Troell’s adaptation of “The Emigrants”; Kristina’s swing from the filming is in the barn.

Historic buildings and churches also offer their own ways to explore the past. On Bökön, Emmaboda Hembygdsgård preserves a 19th-century dwelling and relocated buildings, including a hay barn, an 18th-century barn, a mill building, a log cabin and a holding cell. Långasjö Church contains the remains of a medieval stone church dating from the 13th century. A small museum displays objects from the former church and the old parish library.

Vissefjärda Church features an altarpiece painted by Pehr Hörberg in 1795. On the opposite church island, there is a walking trail and a quiet place for prayer. An electronic guide at Algutsboda Church presents the church’s history in English, German and Swedish; recordings of choral singing and a pilgrims’ service are also available. Opening arrangements may vary, so it’s a good idea to check before your visit. Johansfors Gallery displays old and contemporary art glass, including works by Kjell Engman, Vicke Lindstrand, Göran Wärff and Bertil Vallien, in a former director’s villa at the Johansfors glassworks. As opening may be seasonal, check in advance.

Nature and Trails Around Emmaboda

The municipality has three state nature reserves representing valuable cultural landscapes, hay meadows and valleys. In Lidahult Nature Reserve, a traditional hay meadow is mown annually; mowing supports flowers, butterflies and other small animals. Other landscape features in the reserves include deciduous woodland on former farmland, open areas and clearance cairns left from earlier farming. The protected areas also include a section of the Lyckebyån Valley, historically managed hay meadows and landforms shaped by the last ice age.

The Lyckebyån Valley runs through the Municipality of Emmaboda. Trails and roads followed the valley, and archaeological traces attest to settlements along the river since the Stone Age. For those who prefer designated routes, Hälsans stig offers an easy-to-walk loop of about 5 km through Emmaboda and Lindås. Kilometres are marked along the route, and overview maps are posted. Walkers and runners can start and finish anywhere along the trail.

Other routes vary in length and course. KulTuren is a scenic route of 14 Swedish miles through the municipalities of Emmaboda and Lessebo. The approximately 120 km Utvandrarleden trail passes through Emmaboda, Lessebo and Tingsryd. It can be explored on foot, by bicycle, car or motorcycle. Multi-day packages with overnight stays and bicycle rental are available for the route; as route services may change, check the offers before planning your trip.

Numerous inland lakes and the Lyckebyån offer swimming opportunities around Emmaboda. A bathing spot at Ubbemålasjön is outside the town center and has toilets, picnic tables, a swing set and a barbecue. Emmaboda has train and bus connections for travel to the area; air travel is also accessible within a radius of 60 km.

Discover more destinations: Emmaboda, Långasjö, Eriksmåla, Mönsterås, Högsby, Torsås, Västervik, Oskarshamn.

See the main travel overview: Kalmar.