Västervik: Archipelago, Nature and Maritime History

Along the long coastline stretches the Västervik archipelago, with around 5,000 islands, islets and skerries. The regional area includes the towns of Ankarsrum, Överum, Blankaholm, Edsbruk, Blackstad, Gamleby, Hjorted, Loftahammar, Västervik, Gunnebo and Totebo.

Coast and nature

Naturum Västervik offers an exhibition about life in the shallow coastal zone of the Baltic Sea. Naturum also provides information about forests, mountains, waterways, lakes, islands and the sea. Västervik Outdoor provides maps and information about hiking, cycling, paddling and climbing.

In the wider surroundings of Västervik, the 12-kilometre-long Gränsöleden trail runs through a nature reserve on the Gränsö peninsula outside the town centre.

Getting around

The fourth stage of the Tjustleden includes an approximately 8-kilometre connecting route to Västervik via Marsbäcken. Those taking the northern connecting route of the Tjustleden to Västervik cover a total of around 20 kilometres. On the water, the Gamlebyviken runt kayak route can be started in Västervik or Gamleby; the complete circuit of Gamlebyviken is 41 kilometres long.

The Ankarsrum–Västervik mountain bike route is approximately 60 kilometres long and follows a mixture of minor roads, gravel roads and forest trails to Västervik. Västervik is also the starting point or destination of the 560-kilometre Kustlinjen cycle route, which runs between Västervik, Stockholm and Öregrund.

Västervik has granite climbing areas with routes for different levels of experience; guided tours and courses can also be booked through Västervik’s climbing club. The Dillerium climbing area, also known as VO Klätterområde, consists of boulders and walls in open woodland.

The wreck of the just over 17-metre-long tugboat Ymer lies on the seabed next to Västervik’s guest harbour and serves as a dive site for courses. Archipelago boats operate from Västervik and Loftahammar to the islands of Hasselö, Idö and Rågö.

Maritime history and culture

The permanent Sjöfartshallen exhibition presents Västervik’s maritime history. The “Boatman – det maritima arvet” exhibition displays Tjustökor built using the clinker technique classified by UNESCO. Ship production in Västervik was extensive in the second half of the 16th century and in the 17th century, and at times exceeded that of several of the country’s major shipyards.

The narrow-gauge railway between Hultsfred and Västervik is 70 kilometres long and has a track gauge of 891 millimetres. VisFestivalen takes place every summer in calendar week 28 in the ruins of Stegeholms slott. Visvägen is a walking route marked with signs in the ground about local music history, running from Fiskaretorget to the ruins of Stegeholms slott.

Historic Västervik

S:ta Gertruds kyrka is a medieval church in Västervik on Hälleberget. The chancel and sacristy were built in the 1430s, the nave around 1450 and the tower around 1670. S:t Petri kyrka in Västervik was consecrated in 1905 and built in the Neo-Gothic style.

Törnsfalls kyrka is a landmark and, alongside S:ta Gertruds kyrka in Västervik, the only surviving medieval church in Tjust. The Båtsmansstugorna were built in the 18th century to house the boatmen of Tjusts båtsmanskompani. Today, the Båtsmansstugorna offer a café and a walk along the historic houses and their cobbled paths.

When Västervik was moved from Gamleby to its present location in 1433, the town was built around the ruins of Stegeholms Slottsruin to protect itself against attacking Danes. The artist collective Ateljé Aspagården works at Aspagården near S:ta Gertruds kyrka; visitors are welcome when the flag is hanging from the gable of the house.

Townscape

Unos torn is an 18-metre-high observation tower on Kulbacken, with views over Västervik and Gamlebyviken; the viewing platform is 34 metres above sea level. Västerviks Museum offers guided walks through the older parts of the town and can organise walks for private groups all year round; group size is limited to 25 people.

At the ruins of Stegeholms slott, a staircase and a viewing point have been created above the northern wall to make the cultural monument more accessible and give visitors the opportunity to enjoy the view.

To the higher-level travel overview: Kalmar.