Kalmar Castle

Kalmar Castle was built in the 12th century, during a period of unrest. Extensive remodeling transformed the castle into a Renaissance palace during the 16th century. Most of the interior, as seen today, dates to the 16th century.

Our tour was led by a castle guide, and we learned a great deal about the region's medieval history. The castle was the site of the Kalmar Union in 1397, when a union was formed between Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. On the tour, we learned that "...Kalmar Castle is the best preserved Renaissance castle in the Nordic countries."

Before we left the castle, we visited the beautiful chapel, regularly used today for private weddings. We were given some free time to visit the gift shop, and some of us wandered into a large exhibit hall, where floor-to-ceiling slideshows of Vincent van Gogh's paintings were projected on all four walls. I sat there, awestruck! It was truly a surprising and mesmerizing experience!

Time to board the bus again! This time we drove along the southern tip of Sweden. Before crossing the Øresund Bridge from Sweden to Denmark, we stopped for a very special picnic. It was Midsummer – a big celebration in Sweden. Being in a rural area, Ylva knew that restaurants would be closed and lunch options nonexistent. The evening before, while we were exploring Kalmar, she and our driver, Leif, went shopping. The result – a scrumptious feast that included smoked salmon, meats and cheeses, potato salad, Scandinavian bread and pastries, and "vacuum cleaners" for dessert. After the picnic, Ylva taught us the name game. Standing in a circle, we recited until we had learned everyone's name. By this time we were all laughing and feeling like we had made wonderful new friends!

Day 4 Continues