Across the moat

Construction of the castle begun during the twelfth century. This was the place where the Kalmar Union was formed in 1397, a union of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The castle was modified from medieval fortress into renaissance castle by the early Vasa kings.

Kalmar castle

Essential Bohuslän

Naked cliffs and a bit of salty sea breeze.

Rossö

Quintessential Bohuslän

Except for the bridge it would have been a postcard view.

View from the balcony in Kungshamn

Stones of old

Construction began in 1308, initiated by King Håkon V of Norway. It was given to Sweden after the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658. It was partly demolished in the 18th century and removed stones can still be seen in nearby houses.

Bohus Fortress with northern tower Fars Hatt

End of the pier

Kallbadhuset, Varberg

Moat on ice

Örebro Castle is located on a small island in the town center. The oldest parts are from the 13th century. It's obviously quite easy to storm the castle on a cold winter day.

Örebro

In lack of igloo

A warm place with an open fire is all you need after a long day of skiing.

Idre, Sweden

By the waterfront

Grebbestad

Bricks of old

These steps are leading to Kärnan, a defence tower from 1310.

Helsingborg

Bricks

The Borgholm castle was originally constructed during the twelfth century. After destruction in the Kalmar war 1613, it was rebuilt into a palace by the well-known Swedish architect Nicodemus Tessin. In 1806 it was ravaged by a fire and turned into a ruin.

Borgholm, Öland

Essential Bohuslän

The unusual dark colored rock is called rhombic porphyry.

Rossö

For your love

This building was constructed in 1898 as a wedding gift from Jonas Andersson to his daughter Ida. It was appointed the most beautiful building in Värmland county during 2001.

Sugar Castle in Karlstad

Set in stone

The Gudhem monastery was built in 1152 and burned down in 1529. The sarcophagus belongs to Queen Katarina, born in 1215.

Gudhem monastery ruins

Here be cranes

People have lived in this area for 9000 years, but Lake Hornborga is most known for being the place where thousands of cranes stop by during their spring migration. On the day of my visit, 14 400 cranes were present according to a sign.

Hornborgasjön

Old man and his bike

Arvika

Before the storm

In the quiet hours at sunset, it's hard to believe that this is a major carnage site during Swedish midsummer.

Smögen

Along the waterfront

These are not the cheapest apartments in town.

Västra Hamnen, Malmö

Not quite Golden Gate bridge

Stenungsund

Solitude

When you hate neighbors.

Kungshamn

Why so serious?

Great minds think alike.

Reine meeting The Joker in Malmö

Underground

Underground train station in Malmö

Beneath the spires

After the first brick was placed in 1287, The Uppsala Cathedral has been used for Swedish coronations until 1872. Today it's the final resting place of several notable people, such as king Gustav Vasa, botanist Carl von Linné and Olaus Rudbeck.

Uppsala

Old man of Hoburg

On the southernmost tip of Sweden's largest island Gotland is a rauk (stone formation) resembling a head. It is located in area Hoburgen, thus earning the name Hoburgsgubben (Hoburg man).

Gotland isle

Pretty in pink

Arjeplog is a town in Lapland next to Hornavan, the deepest lake of Sweden. It is located a few miles south of the Arctic Circle and is easily recognized by the pink church Sofia Magdalena by the lake, built in 1641.

Arjeplog

Lumberjack

This old lumbermill is located a few miles west of Skellefteå.

Lumbermill, Skellefteå