Located in Blekinge County, this industrial town has a strong connection to Volvo Cars manufacturing. The surrounding forests and lakes make it a good spot for fishing and hiking.
In the forests of Blekinge County, Olofström sits surrounded by pine woods and over 50 lakes. A Volvo Cars plant operates here, employing thousands and producing vehicle parts since the 1950s. To the west, Halen Nature Reserve covers 809 hectares with trails through pine forests and around Blåsegylet Lake, where a flat 1.5-kilometer path circles the water. Granite from local quarries in Vilshult was used in the Empire State Building, and trails near Jämshög pass the childhood home of Nobel Prize-winning author Harry Martinson. You can paddle across lakes linked by narrow channels, explore abandoned factory sites near Ebbamåla Bruk, or find bronze sculptures by Carl Eldh in Aniaraparken.
Halen Nature Reserve: Trails and Waterways
Halen’s pine forests, wetlands, and clear lakes provide space for hiking, swimming, and watching wildlife. You can follow trails that extend into longer routes such as Skåneleden and Blekingeleden, leading to towns like Kyrkhult or Sölvesborg after several days of walking. Blåsegylet Lake has a short, smooth path suitable for wheelchairs, and Halen Lake’s calm waters work well for canoeing. Rent a boat from May to September or bring your own. Look for ospreys diving for fish in spring and loons calling across the water in June. Stop at wooden shelters along the trails to rest or grill food using the iron fire pits.
Volvo Cars and Local Industry
Volvo Cars operates a large factory in Olofström, producing car body components since the 1950s. Over 2,400 people work here, shaping the town’s economy. Ten kilometers east, Ebbamåla Bruk preserves a 19th-century industrial site where workers once made starch, alcohol, and electricity using waterpower. Guided tours explain how the machinery operated. Near Vilshult village, dark diabase rock was mined starting in the 1890s and shipped worldwide, including for parts of the Empire State Building. The Stenmuseet museum here displays old mining tools, black-and-white photos of quarry workers, and live stone-cutting demonstrations.
Harry Martinson and Literary History
Jämshög, part of Olofström Municipality, is where writer Harry Martinson grew up before winning the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1974. Visit his childhood cottage in Nyteboda, preserved with original furniture and handwritten notes. The Authors’ Museum in Jämshög village holds his typewriter, first editions, and a replica of his Stockholm study. Walk the 12-kilometer Författarvandringsleden trail to see forests and farms that inspired Martinson’s poems, passing landmarks linked to other local writers like Sven Edvin Salje. Every June, the Nässelfrossa festival fills the area with poetry readings, theater performances, and guided history walks.
Carl Eldh’s Sculptures
Sculptor Carl Eldh, known for public art in Stockholm, created several works in Olofström. His bronze statue Youth stands in Aniaraparken, depicting a muscular young man reaching upward. More sculptures sit in Holje Park, including a granite monument to local workers. Eldh’s family grave at Kyrkhult Cemetery features a carved angel he designed. His style focused on realistic human figures, often showing laborers or activists, which matched the town’s factory-centered identity.
Fishing and Sports
Cast a line into Halen Lake for pike, perch, or trout. Buy a fishing permit for a day or week at local convenience stores, and rent a cabin by the water through the municipality’s website. Nordenbergsskolan high school trains students in archery and orienteering, with teams competing nationally. Watch football matches at Olofströms IF’s stadium or ice hockey games at Olofströms IK’s rink from October to March.
Museums and Unique Sights
Holje Park holds two small museums: one exhibits 300 clothes hangers from the 1920s to 1980s, and another displays vintage cameras. At Gränum’s Distillery, learn how farmers made potato liquor in copper stills during the 1800s. Tulseboda Brunn, a 19th-century spa, now serves meals in its historic building and has walking paths around Södersjön Lake.
Location and Transportation
Olofström is the only municipality in Blekinge County without a coastline, surrounded instead by forests and lakes. Drive north to Rävabacken, a 189-meter hill with views reaching the Baltic Sea on clear days. Buses run hourly to Kristianstad and Karlshamn, with direct routes to Malmö (90 minutes) and Kalmar (2 hours). The area’s postal codes start with 293, covering villages like Jämshög and industrial zones near the Volvo plant.
