Spring excursion to Gråborg and ÖlandChoklad

Join Helena Elm and her family on an excursion to Öland's largest ancient castle Gråborg and cozy Ölandschoklad in Färjestaden.

On Sunday, when the spring sun was shining, we took the opportunity to go on an excursion here on Öland, to Gråborg which is located near Algutsrum just outside Färjestaden.

Gråborg is Öland's largest ancient castle, and the oldest parts of the castle are believed to be from the 500s. The adjacent ruin that many people often associate with Gråborg is the ruin of Sankt Knut's chapel from the 1100s. Inside the ruin against the highest brick wall there is a bench, and there it was sheltered and the sun really warmed up.

Not that anyone under the age of five was interested in sitting down and relaxing in the sun on a bench, but the opportunity was there anyway.

Many small streams had formed in the ground, and even though they did not offer any fish, it was always fun to look at.

In connection with looking at the castle and the ruins of the chapel, you can choose to walk different loops in the nature of Öland. Jordtorpsåsen 4 km away is great throughout the spring with all different kinds of flowers, but this time we chose to go for a shorter round.

We brought sausages and bread and made a fire in the fireplace that is at the beginning of the loop.

Grilled sausages taste best outdoors! Then it gets away with quite a lot, such as the sooty that occurs when the sausages slip between them down through the grate as they always manage to do.

When we had eaten our sausage, we looked for blue anemones, and found both one or two fluffy little anemones that bent to the wind.

On the way from there we bought a package of minced lamb from the farm shop that is adjacent to Gråborg, to have for tonight's dinner.

But before going home it was time for coffee! It had clouded up a bit, and a warming coffee break at ÖlandsChoklad near the Öland Bridge in Färjestaden was high on everyone's wish list.  (Luckily the kids have small stomachs so you can usually taste their leftovers.)

Chocolate balls, fine coffee and a chocolate cake with salted caramel in it sat like a charm.

So did the hot chocolate with marshmallows.

It was a really lovely excursion day, with history, beautiful nature, sausage grilling, spring flowers and coffee. Now spring begins here on Öland, and I look forward to a spring filled with weekends with excursions like this one!

Helena Elm, 11 March 2020