Öland is the island where you can constantly experience the wings of history. Ancient castles, burials, agricultural landscapes, buildings and above all the windmills, which are perhaps the most characteristic cultural heritage that Öland can offer. Around the island, different types of historical cultural heritage are made available through more or less organized experiences. Eketorp Castle and Borgholm Castle with guided tours, special children's activities and staff dressed in contemporary clothes. But also smaller local history associations or village associations that manage mills and museums. Or why not go on safari among all the island's open churches? If you're aiming for a holiday with historical and cultural overtones, you've come to the right place.
Museum tips
Öland Museum Himmelsberga
Step into the well-preserved Öland farm environments and travel back in time. Here you can take part in environments from the 1700s to the 1900s and learn more about the cultural heritage as well as contemporary art, crafts and cultivation. Exhibitions are shown throughout the summer and the children are offered their own programme including hay jumping and animal feeding.
Solliden Castle
Enjoy beautiful parks with lush flowers, trees and shrubs in the middle of the royal family's summer paradise. There are many events going on here during the season in gardening, food and motoring. There are plenty of children's activities in the park and for those who want to have a coffee, the historic Kaffetorpet or the castle's creperie is an obvious choice.
Borgholm Castle
Welcome to Sweden's most famous castle ruins. Here, kings throughout the ages have built both fortifications and magnificent halls. Wander around the former castle chambers and enjoy the fantastic view of the alvar and the strait. See the exhibition about the castle's 900-year history or experience a concert in the courtyard.
Borgholm City Museum
The museum is owned and run by Öland's Cultural Heritage Association and is one of Borgholm's most beautiful farms with roots in the early 1800s. The grand main building houses contemporary interiors, industrial history and collections of Öland art and crafts. Here you will also find out more about Borgholm as a popular seaside resort and maritime town as well as the era of the Öland railway.
Eketorp Castle
In the middle of the Öland World Heritage Site, both the Iron Age and the Middle Ages meet. The rebuilt ancient castle is the only one of its kind and a real experience to visit. Gaze out over the expanses from the castle wall or try bread baking, archery or medieval games and games.
Vida Museum and Art Gallery
Experience one of southern Sweden's largest and most significant art centers – welcome to Öland's Louisiana! Exciting exhibitions in painting, sculpture, photography and design are shown here. From the exhibition halls and café, you are offered a spectacular view of Kalmar Sound.
Skedemosse Museum
2,000 years ago, Skedemosse was one of our country's most important sacrificial sites. Here, in the middle of Öland, our ancestors gathered for ritual gatherings throughout the Iron Age. Large amounts of animals and weapons, even humans, were sacrificed. But the most famous find is the nine large gold rings, Sweden's largest treasure, of processed gold. All sacrificed to appease the gods. The museum has an exhibition that tells about the finds and offerings.
J.A.G.S. Museum
Welcome to Gustaf-Jon's world of naïve sculptures inspired by biblical and historical stories. Johan August lived his entire life in Segerstad parish on southeastern Öland. He was a farmer and sailor, but above all he was an artist, sculptor and cabinetmaker. In the museum you can take part in his unique wooden sculptures.
Störlinge Agricultural & Motor Museum
A nice and inspiring excursion destination that is not only aimed at genuine motoring enthusiasts but also at other family members Here you can take part in and experience the technical development in society during the early 1900s and onwards, most of the objects come from Öland. The museum and café are adapted for those with disabilities.
Skäftekärr
On northern Öland there are northern Europe's best-preserved settlement remains from the Iron Age. You can learn more about these at Skäftekärr Archaeological Open-Air Museum. There is a built up Iron Age landscape with sheep pastures, fields, longhouses and activities.