Just to the south of Mönsterås are the ruins of Kronobäck. This is a part of the historical province of Småland in southeastern Sweden. This has been the site of a monastery, but also a hospital and a homeless shelter.
A Short History of Kronobäck
Kronobäck was during the Middle Ages a hospital for the treatment of leprosy. It was first known as Norrabygd and later Oknabäck. It was in 1479 that the hospital was transformed into a monastery of the Order of Saint John. The monastery kept the responsibility to treat patients and did so up until the Swedish Reformation in the 16th century. From 1529 the buildings were once more only used as a hospital.
Things to Do and See
Along the country road, there is not only farmland. This is where you might stagger across the ruins of the cloister church, a part of the former monastery. The walls that are still standing offer an interesting insight into how massive these constructions from the Middle Ages can be.
Cloister Church Ruins
It is the church of the monastery that is still partly standing here as a ruin. It has been excavated a few times and there are a few objects from these that can be found at the local exhibitions. Just next to the ruins is a house that is a bit more modern. In addition to having toilets and other amenities, this is where you will find the small museum.
How to Get to Kronobäck
- Flights: The nearest larger airport is Kalmar Öland Airport (KLR) to the south.
- Car: Kronobäck is near the Road E22 between Oskarshamn and Kalmar, just to the south of Mönsterås.
- Bus: Buses from Kalmar Länstrafik connect Kronobäck with the surrounding area.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 370 kilometers (4 h)
- Gothenburg – 338 kilometers (4 h)
- Malmö – 315 kilometers (3 h 40 min)
- Linköping – 194 kilometers (2 h 30 min)
- Kiruna – 1601 kilometers (17 h 10 min)
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