Målilla is a locality in Hultsfred Municipality in Kalmar County. This is a part of the historical province of Småland in southeastern Sweden. The locality has a population of around 1,400 inhabitants and is a merger between three small settlements. These were the church village, the settlement around the railway station, and the settlement of Emmenäs.
The highest temperature measured in Sweden is 38 degrees Celsius. This record was set in Ultuna in 1933 and repeated in Målilla in 1947.
A Short History of Målilla
Målilla Parish had its origins in the Middle Ages and had earlier a wooden church. It was when the wooden church in 1768 was considered to be in too bad of a shape to save that a merger with the nearby Gårdveda Parish became a possibility. The merger was carried out in 1800 and construction of the new stone church began in 1820. It was completed two years later. A small settlement soon began to develop in the vicinity of the church.
The development of what was to become the locality of today sped up with the completion of the railway in 1874. It was in the vicinity of the railway station that a new settlement began to develop. The trains stopped in Målilla up until 2005.
Things to Do and See
A lot in Mållilla is connected with engines and two-wheeled vehicles. The production of engines is today a local heritage and the history of motocross and speedway is still ongoing.
Målilla-Gårdveda Hembygdspark
This is the local heritage park, an open-air museum with a collection of buildings and objects from the area. This is also where the inhabiatns celebrate traditions such as Midsummer as well as other events.
Speedwaymuseum
Målilla has a long history of motorcycle speedway and the museum tells of that history. It is housed in an old house with changing rooms that have been moved to the heritage park. In addition to the changing room, there is also the old speaker tower next door, which has also been moved here. This is where you can learn more about the local speedway club Dackarna.
Målilla Motormuseum
Målilla Motormuseum lies within the heritage park. Here you will find different kinds of motors, many with their origin in Målilla.
Målilla Lekplats
In the center of Målilla is the main public playground. This is where you will find activities for kids and a larger area for play.
Målilla Mekaniska Verkstad
Målilla Mekaniska Verkstad was a small manufacturing plant that opened in 1907. The plant specialized in engines and produced them between 1908 and 1958. The first exported engine dates back to 1944. The plant was closed down in 1991. Today the old plant is an industrial heritage.
Dackarna & Skrotfrag Arena
Dackarna is the local motorcycle speedway club and one of the traditional teams in Sweden. The club was founded in 1929 as Målilla Motorklubb and has since become Swedish champions seven times, in 1957, 1958, 1959, 1968, 2007, 2021, and 2023.
The club has its home at Skrotfrag Arena, one of the most modern in Sweden. The arena, which can seat 6.500 spectators, is not only used for Speedway. This is also a place for motocross and auto racing.
How to Get to Målilla
- Flights: The nearest airport is the regional airport of Hultfred Airport. Slightly bigger airports in the vicinity include Linköping City Airport (LPI) to the north and Kalmar Öland Airport (KLR) to the southeast.
- Car: Målilla is a bit inland from the main coastal road the E22. It can be at the intersection between Road 34 and Road 47, just south of Hultsfred.
- Train: There are no longer any trains stopping in Målilla. The closest train station is a bit north in Hultsfred.
- Bus: Buses from Kalmar Länstrafik connect Målilla with the surrounding area.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 329 kilometers (3 h 40 min)
- Gothenburg – 269 kilometers (3 h 10 min)
- Malmö – 293 kilometers (3 h 40 min)
- Linköping – 126 kilometers (1 h 40 min)
- Kiruna – 1559 kilometers (16 h 40 min)
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