Discover Jämshög: Literature, Art and Nature

Jämshög is best discovered through its literature and art. The library has a dedicated room named after the writer Sven Edvin Salje. It houses part of his private library, including books with dedications, calendars with his own notes, and various translations and editions of his books. Jämshögs Hembygdsmuseum also focuses on literary figures. It presents the lives of Harry Martinson, the Nobel laureate in Literature, and Sven Edvin Salje. Exhibitions on Jämshög’s history round out this perspective on the town.

Jämshög is being developed as an international book town. The focus is on literature, gatherings and activities that encourage reading. In the book town, you can explore a second-hand bookshop considered one of the largest in southern Sweden. Another literary connection can be found right in the townscape: the 250-metre-long Hantverkaregatan is depicted in Sven Edvin Salje’s novel “Hantverkaregatan.” The story takes readers back to his childhood in the 1920s. The library collection, museum, book town and street thus offer different ways to explore Jämshög’s literary history.

Art and local history in Jämshög

Two public artworks draw on literary imagery. “Förspel” consists of two two-and-a-half-metre-high pages shaped like a literary plough. You’ll find the work in the park between Läkarevillan and Hantverkaregatan. At Jämshög’s roundabout, “Pennans makt” evokes the image of a blank page. In a figurative sense, the artwork represents continuing to write the area’s story.

The town centre also tells of the town’s past: it has preserved much of its character from the time when Jämshög was the centre of an agricultural area. An audio guide for Jämshögs kyrka has been produced by the Diocese of Lund. Check whether it is available before your visit. Together, the townscape, art and audio guide offer different starting points for a walk exploring history and culture.

Nature and trails around Jämshög

The nearby Halen Nature Reserve, characterised by forests and lakes, is within walking distance of the built-up areas of Jämshög and Olofström. It has hiking trails, running routes and bridleways, as well as rest areas and shelters. The nearest bus stops serving the area include Nebbebodagården, where routes 561 and 635 stop, and Jämshögs skola. Check the current timetable before travelling.

The nearby Ljungryda Nature Reserve is also accessible from Jämshög by public transport and on foot: the described route takes you by bus to Östafors, followed by a walk of just under one kilometre. Check current services before travelling. This makes it possible to include two different nature reserves in your travel plans without conflating their respective access points and routes.

For longer hikes, the connection between the long-distance trails offers another point of reference: the Blekingeleden meets the Skåneleden at the western end of Blekinge, near Jämshög and Boafall. The Olofström section of the Blekingeleden is approximately 40 kilometres long. Shelters for overnight stays are available at regular intervals along this section. The approximate distance and the shelters along the route describe different aspects of this section and can be taken into account when planning.

Discover more destinations: Vilshult, Kyrkhult, Olofström.

Back to the main travel guide: Olofström.