Vimmerby is a locality in the historical province of Småland in southeastern Sweden. The locality is the seat of the local municipality in Kalmar County. It has a population of around 8.200 inhabitants, but it is a former inhabitant that has made the town famous. It was in the rural area outside of Vimmerby that the writer Astrid Lindgren was born in 1907. Her stories are many, including Pippi Longstocking, Emil of Lönneberga, and the Six Bullerby Children. Vimmerby is still being marketed with focus on Astrid Lindgren and her stories with the large theme park being located at its outskirt.
A Short History of Vimmerby
The earliest written confirmation of the existent of Vimmerby dates back to the 1253 and it is known to have been a town at least by the year 1350. King Gustav Vasa removed the town rights in 1532, but they were later restored by King Karl IX in 1604. The town grow as a market town, especially for farmers from Småland and Östergötland.
Smaller industries have established themselves in Vimmerby, usually within the manufacturing industry. Arla opened a production plant for powdered milk here in 2004. One of the oldest industries is the brewery Åbro which was established in Vimmerby in 1856 and is still in operation today. Åbro produces beer under the brands of Åbro, Småland, Nästgårds, Bryggmästarens, and Ey’Bro, as well as cider under the trademarks Rekorderlig Cider and Lustgårdens Cider, soft drinks under the name Alla Tiders and water with the trademark Hwila.
Vimmerby is also known for the early inclusion of Romani people among its inhabitants as early as 1713. The registration of ten Romani men is believed to be the earliest known registration of Romani people in Sweden.
Things to Do and See
Many things here focus around Astrid Lindgren and it is a good possibility to learn more about this famous writer, one of the main cultural personalities in Sweden. However, Vimmerby is a historical town with a lot more to enjoy than stories from children’s books. During a walk along the streets, you’ll have the chance to enjoy the picturesque scenery.
Astrid Lindgrens Värld
Astrid Lindgren’s World attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. This is a theme part that brings many of the stories by the famous writer to life. Here you can meet characters such as Pippi Longstocking, Emil of Lönneberga, and Ronia the Robber’s Daughter. This is were all the stories are gathered in one place, but there are more signs of them in Vimmerby and the surrounding area.
Astrid Lindgrens Näs
Astrid Lindgrens Näs is where Astrid Lindgren was born in 1907. The original home is still privately owned and it is only possible to explore it with guided tours. Close to the home is the museum with exhibitions about the writer’s life.
Stora Torget
Stora Torget is the main square and home not only to a statue of Astrid Lindgren but also several activities for kids and adults, many times with inspiration from the stories. It is surrounded by shops, restaurants and cafes, as well as the old town hall that today houses the tourist information. The old town hall was completed in 1825.
Vimmerby Kyrka
The church was inaugurated in 1855 and replaced an older church from 1685. It is a white stone church that is the seat of Vimmerby Congregation within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden.
Storgatan
Storgatan is one of the main streets through the old part of town. It is lined by small picturesque, many times wooden, buildings. Many of these buildings have a long history and a walk along the street can offer a more historical atmosphere.
Gästgivarehagen
Gästgivarehagen is the seat of the local heritage society and acts as an open-air museum. Here you will find buildings from the 18th and 19th century recreating a traditional farmstead from the area. In addition there are also several ancient remains to explore, including burial mounds from the Viking Age.
How to Get to Vimmerby
- Flights: The nearest airport is Linköping City Airport (LPI) which is 99 kilometers to the north.
- Car: Vimmerby is at the intersection between Road 23 and Road 40, between Hultsfred and Kisa as well as between Mariannelund and Ankarsrum.
- Bus: Buses from Kalmar Länstrafik connect Vimmerby with the surrounding area.
- Train: Krösatåg has trains to and from Vimmerby. This includes destinations such as Hultfred, Kalmar, and Linköping.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 298 kilometers (3 h 20 min)
- Gothenburg – 264 kilometers (3 h 10 min)
- Malmö – 326 kilometers (3 h 50 min)
- Linköping – 95 kilometers (1 h 20 min)
- Kiruna – 1528 kilometers (17 h)
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