Lunds By is a small settlement in the countryside of what is the historical province of Småland in the southeastern part of Sweden. On one side of Road E22 is the settlement and on the other is the church of Gladhammar. Together these two settlements and their surroundings have a population today of around 70 inhabitants.
The Six Bullerby Children is a book by Astrid Lindgren and some of the scenes in the film that was based on the book are filmed in Lunds By.
A Short History of Lunds By
The settlement is believed to have been established here in the 17th century around what was once a stop for transports used by travelers along the coastal road. This was no stop for food and rest for the travelers. Instead, this was the place to replace the horses. There is also a cobalt mine approximately one kilometer from the settlement. It is believed that it was mined by the inhabitants.
The current houses of the settlement were built in the 18th century and did once belong to different members of the same family. The family ties remained until 1894 at which time all owners were descendants of the man Per Olsson who died in 1692. The last available information is that his descendants still own five of the eight houses.
Things to Do and See
Lunds By is the main attraction and it really is like something from a book by Astrid Lindgren. There is also nearby Gladhammar with its impressive church. In the end, this is the Swedish countryside with all the tranquility that it typically comes with.
Lunds By
Lunds By is in itself the main attraction here. The eight buildings with the square in between have become a smaller tourist attraction and are marked as a sight along down at the main road through the area. The settlement is unique in many ways and makes quite an interesting stop.
Gladhammar Mines
The Gladhammar Mines are located a bit further away and they tell a different history of the area. The mines are according to some sources some of the oldest in Sweden and metals were processed here as early as the 12th century. The centuries have seen the excavation of iron ore, copper ore, and eventually cobalt ore in the 1770s. The mining has since long been decommissioned and the area had for centuries been contaminating the surrounding lakes and rivers. In the 2000s work was done to prevent contamination. Today the area includes information for visitors and offers the possibility to see parts of the area surrounding the mines.
How to Get to Lunds By
- Flights: The closest airport is Oskarshamn Airport (OSK) 43 kilometers away.
- Car: Lunds By is on road E22 just south of Västervik.
- Bus: Buses from Kalmar Länstrafik connect Lunds By with the surrounding area.
- Train: The closest railway station is in nearby Västervik.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 287 kilometers (3 h 17 min)
- Gothenburg – 302 kilometers (3 h 37 min)
- Malmö – 364 kilometers (4 h 35 min)
- Linköping – 111 kilometers (1 h 30 min)
- Kiruna – 1518 kilometers (17 h 23 min)
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