"My Hometown" with The Wannadies

Since I’m currently visiting my parents in my home town Karlskrona I thought I should write something nice about my (quite beautifully) hometown…

…but then I decided to just steal something from their homepage.

So, here are some facts about the town I’m currently located in:

Karlskrona
Karlskrona, which has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage list since 1998, is a living history book with well preserved locations from the town’s naval history, a modern IT town and one of the Baltic’s meeting places. An international outlook and three centuries of solid technical knowledge are the driving forces behind Karlskrona’s progress. Exciting experiences are offered alongside the warmest hospitality, and from the moment you arrive there are enjoyable discoveries to be made.

Karlskrona then and now
King Karl XI, whose statue stands in the square, founded the town in 1680 to strengthen control over the Baltic. The town is situated on 33 islands. Naval features include the naval dockyards, with the 300-metre long ropewalk from 1692, and Polhemsdockan, a dry dock dating from 1724. Wide streets and monumental buildings provide classical purity and baroque splendour. During the reign of King Gustav III, ships were built under the supervision of the Master Shipwright Fredrik Henrik af Chapman. Karlskrona has experienced the strongest growth in IT in Sweden. The TelecomCity network has been developed, as has Blekinge Institute of Technology, which has a high profile in IT and research. The geographical position is favourable, and several of the town’s industrial companies operate globally. Sweden’s southernmost archipelago offers glorious swimming and boating. Karlskrona is alive with enterprise. Nevertheless, the fortifications have remained virtually untouched since the beginning of the eighteenth century.

Sightseeing and places to visit.
World Heritage town. Karlskrona is a journey through time and space. The master architects Erik Dahlberg and the father and son Nicodemus Tessin were summoned to what was once Sweden’s second-largest town. Influences from Rome can be seen in the churches on Stortorget. Outside Amiralitetskyrkan (Admiralty church), Sweden’s largest wooden church, there is a wooden statue of the well-known Karlskrona figure, Rosenbom the beggar. During the development of the naval town, Admiral Hans Wachtmeister resided at Grevagården, which is now Blekinge museum. Gamla varvet (the old shipyard) is like a museum in itself. In the archipelago, Kungsholms fort, the citadel of Drottningskärs kastell and the sea fort of Godnatt are exciting places to visit for the whole family. Björkholmen’s narrow alleys and tiny cottages offer an excellent contrast. Out at Skärfva, af Chapman’s impressive summer residence combines a traditional Swedish folk style with one redolent of a great power.

Coast and archipelago.
Islands that were previously subject to military restrictions are waiting for you to explore them. Proper cultivation thrives on Hasslö, Aspö, Tjurkö and Sturkö, where you can enjoy strawberries, fish specialities and delicious potatoes. The Skärgårdstrafiken boat service departs from Fisktorget. It is easy to find your own cove on the small islands in the east. Birdwatchers flock to the peninsula of Torhamns udde. The picturesque, historical and entertaining village of Kristianopel is well worth a visit.

Keep readin’.
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "My Hometown" with The Wannadies