Landmark
Domkyrka
The red cathedral with its striking twin towers shapes the skyline. Inside, modern glass art glows – a greeting from the nearby Kingdom of Glass.
The most beautiful places in Småland
Växjö
The green city between the lakes – and the heart of the emigrants' story.
Arriving
When I think of the heart of Småland, I think of Växjö.
Lakes glitter all around, the red cathedral with its two towers stands in the middle, and everything is so green that the city likes to call itself “Europas grönaste stad” – Europe's greenest city. Växjö is small enough to explore calmly on foot and big enough to spend a whole day strolling, marveling and having Fika. For me, it's also the place where the story of all those who once set off for the North begins – just as I myself feel drawn there.
I love starting my day in Växjö with a walk around Lake Växjösjön. In the morning the water often lies perfectly still, a few ducks drift along, and the town slowly wakes up. Afterwards my path almost always leads me to the House of Emigrants – the place that keeps the letters and stories of those who once left Småland. I read their words and feel how close they are to me: the same longing, just in the other direction.
Profile
In a nutshell
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Province
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Province
Kronoberg
Växjö is the seat of Kronoberg County.
Population
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Population
≈ 70.000
Small enough for strolling, big enough for a whole day.
Location
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Location
In the middle of Småland
Lakes and deep forests all around – Småland's green heart.
Nickname
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Nickname
Grönaste stad
“Europe's greenest city” – that's what Växjö likes to call itself.
What you should see
Little favorite places
Emigrating ♥
Utvandrarnas Hus
The House of Emigrants tells the story of the many Swedes who once set out for America. For anyone who dreams of emigrating themselves, it's moving – it certainly is for me.
Green oasis
Linnéparken
Right behind the cathedral lies the park, named after Carl Linnaeus, the famous botanist from Småland. Perfect for taking a deep breath by the lake.
Water and ruins
Kronobergs Slott
The ruins of the old fortress stand on an island in Helgasjön. In summer, Sweden's oldest wood-fired steamboat takes you out onto the water.
Art and history
Glass and Småland Museum
Under one roof: the country's oldest provincial museum and one of the largest glass collections in Sweden. A must for art lovers.
City feeling
Stortorget and the lakeshore
The market square, the pedestrian street Storgatan and, right next to it, Växjösjön – city and nature are just a stone's throw apart.
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Why this place
Växjö feels like a quiet promise. Between the green park, the still lakes and the House of Emigrants, I sense that setting off isn't a loss but a beginning. I take exactly this feeling home with me every time.
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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.
