A Sunday in Ystad!

Sweden has many beautiful places you can visit. The region of Skåne, is one of them with some of the most beautiful places I have visited.
Ystad in Skåne, is a 12th century town in the south of Sweden, originally a fishing settlement. Just as the rest of Skåne, Ystad belonged to Denmark in the 14th century until 1648 where it became Swedish.
Walking the medieval centre with its cobblestone streets can take you to little corners that are fairy-tale like!
Ystad is perfect for couples and families, even for solo travelling!
Even if you are not in the mood to visit a museum, Ystad can be enjoyed simply by walking around, which was pretty much what I did.

 For travel bloggers but also for photography lovers, this is a place that can be a lot of fun as one thing this place has plenty of, is pretty spots that would even satisfy the most dedicated instagramers.

Ystad has something to offer to both those interested in history and to those who simply want to visit and walk around, to admire and discover new places. There are guided tours available but there are so many places of interest that discovering the history behind this beautiful place will not be hard. Home to the largest Scandinavian film studio, Ystad has been portrayed in film and series which is easy to understand why.

 I visited on a Sunday, where everything was closed apart from cafes and restaurants, but that was not any less fun. Do make sure if you visit on a Sunday, you go in the morning, as many cosy cafes tend to close around 4.00 pm.
Ystad's buildings are full of colour, diverting from the classic red that is common in many places in the country. What is worth mentioning, is that a trip to Ystad, can easily be paired with Åhus, as it is just under an hours drive. If there is more time in your hands or you are like me, 'town hopping' as much as possible, it is relatively close also to Lund, even Malmö although these two cities are quite large to cram into even over a weekend. If you ever need to travel back time, a trip to Skåne should do it, with Ystad, a place you must visit!

Öland: A day trip worth taking

Another beautiful, sunny day in the south of Sweden, another reason to travel! 

So, Saturday comes, and after a stressful week, I decide to visit   Öland (Oland).

Not that you need many excuses to travel in Sweden, but good weather makes it almost impossible not to take a trip, even if that is for one day!

Öland is an island, opposite Kalmar to which you can cross over the bridge by car in about 10 minutes.

A little spot called Åhus

Last Sunday, I visited Åhus.
Now, in Sweden there is no quarantine, but still I like to be safe and  so have not been going out at all.  Since Sundays in Sweden are very quiet, I decided a day trip by car, would be so nice after having locked myself in since March.
         So looking at destinations that could be reached within 3 hours max from where I am located, I spotted Ystad (post coming shortly) and Åhus (pronounced Ohus). Although it was not a place I was recommended or had seen any pictures of previously, I took a detour on the way home to walk around.
I was not disappointed! On the contrary, I was damn impressed. Not to mention surprised to discover it is the home of Absolut vodka!
This cosy, medieval town , with a population of less than 10.000, was one of the cosiest places I have ever visited. 
Located in Kristianstad municipality and about 3 hours away from the Danish-Swedish borders, Åhus is a place one must simply visit if ever in the south of Sweden.
     Even though it is summertime, upon arrival, everything (restaurants, bars and cafes) was closed at 8.00pm apart from the odd pizza place. I did not mind at all, as simply taking a walk was enough for me to enjoy the place.
There is a forest you can go through where you can reach a white-sand beach, which is nice, but walking the beautiful cobblestone paths was even better for me. The whole town of Åhus is as if it is not real, with houses seeming to be part of a filming studio at some point. Time capsule would be a phrase best describing it!
There are many preserved buildings that are in excellent condition and even the 800 year old ruins of a Dominican Friar ruins can be visited at all times with no charge.

The charm of this town is how well its spirit has been 'protected' from 'civilisation' and leave you feeling you have travelled back in time. Even though the old buildings have been beautifully preserved, the new buildings have not ruined the scenery with the ugly 70's block of flats you are bound to meet in Sweden in many places. There are indeed more contemporary houses build, but each with impressive architecture that matches the scenery along the river which passes through the town.

The more contemporary houses, are better described as villa's, luxurious and glorious, commonly 3 stories tall with front porches leading to the yachts or boats right in front.
       When the sun starts to nod off, the tiny lights come on, along the river bank where many residents sit and watch them. On the opposite side of the river, where the more traditional houses are located, you can admire the architecture and get a sense of what it was like when the town was build.
The town's church bell clock, still sounding every hour in the main square with the clock master's house located just outside the church in the main square.
Of course, lets not forget as mentioned above, that this town is home to Absolut vodka! Next time you order Absolut, remember how it is from this little corner of the world.
The company was founded by Lars Olsson over a century ago. The company has created the Absolut vodka home, a mansion turned into a 'museum' with a bar situated in the garden. Unfortunately having visited on a Sunday evening it was closed, but will be something to look forward to if I were to pass through again.
        There are many sites that offer information on  Åhus and the Vodka distillery such as:

 https://www.kristianstad.se/en/culture-and-leisure/tourism/see--do/guides/ahus---a-medieval-town/

https://www.pernod-ricard.com/the-absolut-company/legacy/

where more detailed info is offered in terms of history and sights. It may be a small place but without a doubt, of unique beauty and wonderful background.
It is, for sure, a place worth visiting.