Forest peace
Lake Hulingen
Right at the edge of town lies Hulingen, ringed by forest and reeds. I like to simply sit by the water here, listen to the wind and feel everything inside me slowly growing quieter.
The most beautiful places in Småland
Hultsfred
Forest peace by the lake – deep forests, quiet lakes and a surprisingly rich culture right in the middle.
Arriving in the green
Hultsfred translates as “forest peace” – and hardly any name could fit better.
In the densely forested east of Småland, on the shore of Lake Hulingen, lies Hultsfred – surrounded by nothing but forests and more than 350 lakes. For me, this is the place where I put my phone away and simply breathe: the scent of pine, smooth water, silence all the way to the horizon. And yet this quiet little spot has a surprisingly big heart – a legendary rock history, an art hall in the middle of the woods and a village called Lönneberga that makes every child who grew up with Astrid smile right away.
My favourite way to be out here is by canoe. The paddle dips into the dark water, the pines stand close together along the shore, and apart from the call of a bird there is nothing to hear. Hultsfred reminds me that calm is not a luxury but something we are simply allowed to take – and that a single day by the lake sometimes gives more than a whole week of holiday full of plans.
Profile
Quick notes
Tap or hover with your mouse to flip.
Place
flip
Place
Hultsfred
Small forest town on Lake Hulingen.
Province
flip
Province
Kalmar län
In the densely forested east of Småland.
The name
flip
The name
“Forest peace”
Forest and more than 350 lakes all around.
Known for
flip
Known for
Rock music
The legendary Hultsfredfestivalen.
Tip: The big festival no longer exists in its old form – but you can still trace its history along the lakeshore. It's best to quickly check the opening hours of the art hall and museums on the official websites.
More than just forest
My wanderings
Legendary rock
Where the festival lived
On the lakeshore, Hultsfred once hosted one of Sweden's biggest rock festivals – everyone from Metallica to Swedish legends played here. On a short walking tour, you can still trace this wild music history today.
Art in the woods
Virserums Konsthall
My insider tip: in the middle of the forests, the “Pappershuset”, an art hall made entirely of wood, with soft, filtered light. Contemporary art about perfectly ordinary life – for me, one of the most special places in the area.
Emil's home
Lönneberga
Yes, it really exists: the village of Lönneberga, which gave Astrid Lindgren's Emil his name. Driving through these quiet farms and forests feels like a walk through a picture book from my childhood.
350 lakes
Out to the water
Around Hultsfred, one lake follows another. Paddling, fishing, swimming, birdwatching at Hulingen – thanks to Allemansrätten, the right of public access, all of nature is open to you. Here every afternoon becomes a little adventure.
What moves me ♥
Just breathe
Hultsfred is my place to recharge. No hustle, no musts – just forest, water and wide-open space. When I spend a few days here, my mind grows completely calm, and I remember how good silence is for me.
Impressions
Pictures of forest peace
A few moments I captured around Hultsfred – deep forests, quiet lakes and that warm, calm light of the Småland summer.
Some images were created or edited with AI and are for illustrative purposes.
♥ ♥ ♥
Why I keep coming back
For me, Hultsfred is the very essence of forest peace. A lake where I find calm, forests where I lose myself, and in between, quite unexpectedly, art and music history. A place that is quiet and yet has so much to tell.
♥ ♥ ♥
♥
The journey continues
More places in Småland
Discover the other stops on my journey through the land I long for – place by place, with heart.
