Ancient rift valleys and giant oaks, cast iron pans from the 1850s and award-winning sausage. It doesn't take long to realise that the Ronneby area holds more than it lets on.
The Ronneby area offers paddling on a 70 km canoe trail, hiking in Gummagölsmåla and Johannishus Åsar nature reserves, cast iron cookware direct from the factory at Ronneby Bruk, and craft charcuterie at Wiktor Olssons in Bräkne-Hoby — all with Karlsnäsgården by the Ronnebyån river as the natural base.
Blekinge is dense country. Around Ronneby, two nature reserves hide in plain sight that are hard to compare with anything else in the region.
Deep rift valley in Gummagölsmåla
Ancient monuments in Johannishus Åsar
Esker ridges through open farmland
THE BRÄKNEÅN VALLEY
The Bräkneån river winds through a 40-metre-deep rift valley - one of the most dramatic settings in southern Swedish nature. The broadleaf forest is rich in beech, oak and ash, and in spring the slopes turn blue with hepatica and yellow with golden saxifrage. Along the river: traces of old mills and timber-floating infrastructure. Up on the plateau: fossilised field systems and clearance cairns left by people who farmed this land long before anyone drew a map.
The regional Vildmarksleden trail passes through the reserve. The terrain is demanding on the steeper slopes — solid boots required, the view is the reward.
More about Gummagölsmåla →
JOHANNIS ESTATE · SINCE THE 1600S
When the inland ice melted, it left behind six kilometres of esker ridges rising through open farmland that has belonged to Johannishus Estate since the 17th century. The ridges are home to the stag beetle - Blekinge's regional animal - and the ancient oaks shelter colonies of rare insects. In spring the slopes are carpeted in pasque flowers. Beneath the surface: more than 350 registered ancient monuments, most of them Iron Age burial mounds.
Easy paths along the esker ridges with wide views across the Blekinge landscape. Part of hiking trail ARK56.
More about Johannishus Åsar →
By the Ronnebyån river, a couple of kilometres from the town centre, Karlsnäsgården gathers most of active Ronneby under one roof.
Book paddling →
Paddelkompaniet & Friluftsfrämjandet. 70 km trail from Småland to the coast.
Blekinge's best artificial snow track. Showers and sauna on site.
Two places unlike anything else in the region — an iron foundry tradition from the 1850s and a family butcher that has guarded Blekinge food traditions since 1948.
KALLINGE · CAST IRON SINCE THE 1850s
Frying pans, casseroles and mortars in thin-walled lightweight cast iron — made in the same tradition since the 19th century. The factory shop sells first-quality pieces alongside seconds at reduced prices. Cast iron is 100% recyclable and built to last generations. Maestro knives and beech chopping boards also in stock.
Cast iron
1st & 2nd quality
Maestro knives
Visit Ronneby Bruk →
BRÄKNE HOBY · FAMILY BUSINESS SINCE 1948
Three generations and one constant principle: local ingredients, traditional craft. The isterband sausage is award-winning and the shop is a popular stop on the local food trail — especially before Easter and Christmas. Everything sold straight over the counter in a genuinely old-school shop environment.
Opening hours 2025/26
Fridays 10–18 · Saturdays 10–13. Closed some winter weeks, opens for Easter. Check current hours before visiting.
Visit Wiktor Olssons →
