Bromölla is a locality in the province of Skåne in southern Sweden. It is home to around 8.100 inhabitants as well as the old industrial manufacturer Ifö, known for their toilets. It is also famous for its fossil deposits, with finds of Plesiosaurs from the Cretaceous Period. These giant reptiles are today remembered with a statue at the main square.
A Short History of Bromölla
Ivetofta Parish has its origins in the Middle Ages and its church was inaugurated in the 12th century. What was to become the market town of Bromölla started to develop south of the original settlement around the church. The nearby limestone queries were an important part of the development of the new locality. The growth was further accelerated by the construction of the railway between Kristianstad and Sölvesborg in 1886 and the opening of the ceramic factory Ifö in 1887. Bromölla Market Town was founded in 1942 and became the seat of the new municipality in 1971.
The company Ifö has grown and has become one of the largest manufacturers of products for bathrooms and kitchens, since 1937 this mainly includes washstands, toilets, and bathtubs. Ifö has been an important part of Bromölla’s development. It is, however, no longer the largest employer. The largest employer in the area is today Stora Enso Nymölla, a large pulp factory a few kilometers from the center of Bromölla.
Things to Do and See in Bromölla
Dinosaurs and industrial history meet when you explore the streets of Bromölla. Here you will find the smallest library in Sweden as well as the Scanisaurus sculpture that is in the same class as sculptures you might otherwise find in cities like Madrid or Rome.
Scanisaurus
Scanisaurus is the large stone statue or fountain standing at the main square, the Ifö Square, in Bromölla. It was inaugurated in 1971 after three years of work by the sculptor Gunnar Nylund and a group of 60 people. Scanisaurus consists of two Plesiosaurs that are said to be enjoying the sun on a cliff on the island of Ivö.
Havsdrakarnas Hus
Havsdrakarnas Hus is an interactive museum dedicated to the Plesiosaurs, of which there have been fossil findings in the area. The name means the house of the sea dragons. The museum is in the same building as the train station.
Ifö Center
Ifö Center is the old factory that has been converted into a cultural center. It offers a working space for artists and includes several art exhibitions. But for many of us passing by it is the large artwork on the facade that is really fascinating.
Brukshusen
Along one of the streets, Bruksgatan, is the old factory houses in which many of the local workers lived. These are a row of colorful houses telling the story of the working-class home in Sweden about a century ago.
Sweden’s Smallest Library
Right next to the train station is an old telephone booth that has turned into Sweden’s smallest library. A convenience for many commuters.
Humleslingan
Humleslingan is a 50-kilometer hiking path around the nearby lake Ivösjön. The path includes several natural and cultural sights. This is just one of several hiking and bicycle paths around the lake.
Ivetofta Church
Ivetofta Church dates back to the 12th century and its wide defensive tower was built in the following century. It is especially the tower and part of the church’s foundation that is left of the Middle Age church. Many alternations took place in the 19th century.
How to Get to Bromölla
- Flights: The closest airport is Kristianstad Airport (KID) 38 kilometers away. The airport has a few domestic routes.
- Car: Bromölla is along the road E22 between Kristianstad and Sölvesborg.
- Bus: Buses from both Blekingetrafiken and Skånetrafiken connect Bromölla with the surrounding region.
- Train: Pågatågen and Öresundståg service Bromölla. Destinations include Karlshamn, Kristianstad, Karlskrona, and Copenhagen.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 542 kilometers (5 h 57 min)
- Gothenburg – 285 kilometers (3 h 12 min)
- Malmö – 114 kilometers (1 h 14 min)
- Linköping – 347 kilometers (3 h 85 min)
- Kiruna – 1772 kilometers (19 h 42 min)
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