# Sölvesborg

Sölvesborg is a small town in Blekinge with roots in the Danish Middle Ages. With its 8,800 inhabitants (2020), Sölvesborg includes Listerlandet, a peninsula with several charming fishing villages, e.g., Hällevik, Hörvik and Djupekås. Half an hour's boat ride outside Listerlandet lies the fabled island of Hanö. In the northern part of the municipality is Ryssberget with large contiguous beech forests. Sölvesborg is perhaps best known for the Sweden Rock Festival, which is held at the beginning of June every year in the village of Norje.

## Understand

In what was then Denmark, Sölvesborg was built to protect the castle, the ruins of which can be found just north of the city centre. The first castle was probably built at the beginning of the 13th century on an artificial hill between the bay and the road below Ryssberget. The castle was strategically located and under its protection the city of Sölvesborg grew.
The city of Sölvesborg still has a well-preserved medieval street network, with Stortorget in the centre and eight perpendicular streets extending from the corners. Northwest of the square is the city's only preserved medieval building, St. Nicolai church, named after the patron saint of sailors. Construction of the church probably began at the end of the 13th century in the Gothic style. To the north of the church you can see traces of the Carmelite monastery that was built in 1486, following the Pope's instructions. Fifty years later the Reformation came and the days of the monastery were over.
Through the peace of Roskilde in 1658, Sölvesborg became Swedish. During the beginning of the 18th century, the city lost its city privileges to Karlshamn, and instead of trade, the citizens of Sölves subsisted on agriculture, fishing, and keeping wild boar. At the end of the century, times got better and Sölvesborg became the city of glove and hat makers. During the 19th century, new industries emerged, mainly spirit exports.

### Tourist information

Sölvesborg's tourist office is at the City Hall. ☏ +46 456-100 88. turistbyran@solvesborg.se

## Get in

Getting to Sölvesborg is easy. The connections with major cities as Malmö and Kristianstad are well, as you can either go by train, bus or just drive.

## Get around

Getting around is most easily done by walking. The city is fairly small.

## See

Sölvesborg and its surroundings have many ancient monuments, both above and below ground. On Mörby hill is a cairn from the older Bronze Age (approx. 1400 BC) with a wide view. In Lörby forest there is a burial field probably from the Iron Age and in Stiby the Stiby Sissa stone stands and "turns towards the smell of freshly baked bread". At St. Nicolai church there are two runestones, but not in their original place.

## Do

* Hanö Island is reached by ferry from Nogersund in Hällevik.
* Football: Mjällby AIF play soccer in Allsvenskan, the top tier. Their home ground Strandvallen (capacity 6750) is in Hällevik. The playing season is April-Nov.
* Sweden Rock Festival — A big, open-air summer rock festival, taking place in Norje, close to Sölvesborg each year in June.

## Eat

* Ritz Conditori och Bageri, Stortorget 3-5, ☏ +46 45610333. M-F 08:00-18:00, Sa 08:00-15:00, Su closed. Viennese-style bakery and café (konditori). Excellent bread, cakes and buns baked on location at prices matching quality.