Holiday apartment in Vissefjärda: church stables, Dacke history and Lake Törn

Around the church in Vissefjärda, distinctive traces of local history are concentrated. Vissefjärda Church is a stone church and was consecrated on 28 February 1773. Next to it, the Dacke Stones commemorate Nils Dacke; at the top, the stone bears a crossbow pointing towards Stockholm. Also next to the church are remains that may be parts of the Vesa borg defensive structure.

Culture and history

Inside the church is an altarpiece painted by Pehr Hörberg in 1795. The bells of Vissefjärda Church hang in a bell tower whose present form dates from the 19th century. The present Vissefjärda church stables were built in 1855 and provided space for 200 horses.

In these church stables, the local heritage museum displays old implements and household goods. They were used by people from more than 100 villages in the parish and were often made by the users themselves. The museum also includes an exhibition of old postcards from Vissefjärda, reflecting the period from 1900 onwards. From Monday to Friday, 1 July to 9 August, the Vissefjärda church stables are open from 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm; coffee service, museum visits and guided tours are available.

Vissefjärda Bio is also part of the local cultural life. It is now run by the Vissefjärda Bio association and regularly screens films, including films in 3D.

History

The area's historical roots reach far back. Finds of stone and flint tools near the Lyckebyån and its branches within Vissefjärda show that people have lived and worked here for thousands of years. In the Middle Ages, Vissefjärda was an important border area in trade with Denmark; the so-called Dacke Feud took place here in 1542–1543.

The Vissefjärda Hembygdsförening offers a self-guided tour through Nils Dacke's home region. It includes a map and places to visit, allowing visitors to connect the historical references with their own exploration.

Traditions

Since 1984, the Midsummer celebration at the Vissefjärda church stables has included amateur theatre performances. They are performed by local residents and are based on local historical events. A historical steam engine is also fired up at the annual Midsummer celebration; its wheels turn and smoke rises from the chimney.

In the vicinity of Vissefjärda, Kyrkeby Bränneri is located on the Lyckebyån. It is considered Sweden's best-preserved schnapps distillery, now produces schnapps using potatoes as the raw material and offers guided tours. In 2000, Kyrkeby Bränneri was declared one of the historic buildings of Kalmar County. The distillery comprises 28 buildings, including a malt house, a building for the spirits cistern, a schnapps room, a potato cellar and a storehouse. Since 2017, the historic steam engine has been operated there every year to produce schnapps from locally grown potatoes.

Water and surroundings

The accessible Törestorps bathing place is located on Lake Törn in Vissefjärda. It has a ramp into the water, an accessible toilet and shower, and tables for wheelchair users. The bathing place also has changing facilities, a shower, benches and tables, a swing set and a barbecue.

There is a bathing place with a campsite on the outskirts of Vissefjärda. The facilities at Vissefjärda's campsite were newly built in 2021; the campsite is open seasonally from 1 May to 30 September. Kallmanstorpet is situated in a scenic area near Lake Törn and within reach of Vissefjärda.

Activities

Vissefjärda is home to the 18-hole Björketorpsbanan golf course and a short course by Kyrksjön. For running and fitness sessions, Vissefjärda GoIF maintains routes measuring 1,250 metres, 2.5 kilometres and 5 kilometres; two of these routes are illuminated.

There is an ice rink at the sports field of Vissefjärda School, which is iced by Vissefjärda GIF. In winter, cross-country ski trails are prepared in the Vissefjärda area using a snowmobile.

Getting around

Vissefjärda railway station was established in 1874. Near the church, the local heritage association built a new pedestrian and cycle bridge in 2021.

Further information about the town: Vissefjärda.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Oskarshamn, Högsby, Torsås, Hultsfred, Västervik, Vimmerby.

To the overview of the wider destination: Kalmar.