Kisa is a locality in Kinda Municipality in Östergötland County and is the seat of this municipality in eastern Sweden. It was once the center of the local parish, but has developed further in the last century due to the railway and establishment of local industries. The population today is around 3.800 inhabitants.
This was once the home of the actress Inger Nilsson, who played Pippi Longstocking in the 1969 TV series. Another famous local is the 1998 winner of the World Strongest Man, Magnus Samuelsson.
A Short History of Kisa
Kisa has a long history both as the seat of the local parish but also as the location of an inn for travelers. The local inn dates back to the 17th century and might be the oldest inn in Sweden. The parish is, however, even older and have its origins in the Middle Ages. Its church was inaugurated already in the 13th century.
Some of the buildings still standing in the center of the town date back to the 18th century and they were used for the small businesses that developed here in the 19th centuries. One of these businesses was an emigration agency that opened in 1846. It was the first of its kind in Sweden and catered to emigrants to North America. Other businesses that were established here in the 19th century included the bank Kinda Härads Sparbank. There were also since before an established forestry industry in the area.
The railway between Hultsfred and Linköping opened in 1902 and is today known as Stångådalsbanan. The station in Kisa was inaugurated the same year and included a visit by King Oscar II. The trains on the railway is since 2021 run by Krösatågen, which is operated by SJ.
Things to Do and See
Kisa is a town with a long history. You will find several buildings with a well-known history, but there is also an historical atmosphere to enjoy here. Older buildings are mixed with more modern architecture and even though the town is fairly small there are some grandiose buildings mixed into this as well.
Kisa Hembygdsgård
Watching out over the lake Kisasjön is the local heritage museum. This is an open-air museum with historical buildings and artifacts collected for the area known as Kinda. The main building is a manor house from what was once Hovby Gård in Västra Eneby Parish. It dates back to the 17th century.
Kisa Kyrka
The local parish church has its origins in the 13th century. It was, however, rebuilt in the 18th century and it is from this time that many of its artifacts and paintings are dated. The Church is today a part of the Kisa Congregation within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden.
Kisa Wärdshus
Kisa has as mentioned been home to an inn for travelers since the 17th century. It was at the time located along the main traveling route between Kalmar and Linköping and is in many ways still that today. It is today located at the central square in Kisa and is still an inn, or rather a restaurant and hotel. The building that stands here today was built in 1885 on the old foundation of the previous building. The adjoining buildings are from 1777 and 1863.
Lokstallet
Close to the railway station there is an old railway depot that was built in 1901. It has more recently been restored to its original appearance and does today house an old locomotive. This is in many ways a building that is hard to miss. It looks like a miniature fortress.
Kisa Emigrantmuseum
The emigration agency that opened in Kisa in 1846 did so in one of the more historical buildings that still stands in the area today. The red wooden building dates back to the 18th century and its part in the history of the emigration to North America is still remembered. This is day home to the local emigration museum as well as the Café Columbia.
How to Get to Kisa
- Flights: The nearest airport is Linköping City Airport (LPI), which is 59 kilometers to the north.
- Car: Rimforsa is located along Road 23 between Linköping and Vimmerby.
- Bus: Buses from Östgötatrafiken connects Kisa with the surrounding area.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 258 kilometers (2 h 40 min)
- Gothenburg – 270 kilometers (3 h 10 min)
- Malmö – 364 kilometers (4 h 10 min)
- Linköping – 55 kilometers (45 min)
- Kiruna – 1488 kilometers (16 h 10 min)
Explore More of Östergötland and Sweden
Exploring Sweden (by train) is a terrific idea. Thank you 🙏