Kalmar is a historic city that went down in the history of Sweden thanks to the union signed here in the 14th century, linking Denmark, Sweden and Norway under the rule of one king. A Renaissance castle, one of the most important in Scandinavia, and the Old Town with the remains of the defensive walls have been preserved here.
The settlement in the place of today's Kalmar already existed in the 11th century, and it was granted city rights in the 13th century. Initially, there was a watchtower here, which was transformed into a castle. It was there that in 1397 the act of the Kalmar Union was signed, which united Sweden, Denmark and Norway under one king. It was one of the most important events in the history of Scandinavia of the late medieval period.
The most important monument and main attraction of Kalmar is the renaissance Kalmar Castle situated on an island surrounded by fortifications. The city park of Kalmar with recreational areas and walking paths stretches around the fortress.
The historic center of Kalmar is surrounded by the remains of city walls, including the West Gate, the Old Town. On its premises, there are the Old Market Square, the large city square and the monumental, baroque cathedral in Kalmar.
The city is also famous for its museums. The most important of these is the Kalmar County Museum showing the history of the city and the surrounding area since the Middle Ages. A modern building surrounded by a park is occupied by the Kalmar Art Museum with a collection of paintings and sculptures from the period from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.
The Ölands Bridge starts in the vicinity of Kalmar, which takes you to Oland. It is 6 km long and is one of the longest in Sweden and the whole of Scandinavia.
