Sjöbo

Sjöbo, a town in southern Sweden’s Skåne County, brings crowds each July for its fair with 100,000 attendees. Five churches from the 1100s display medieval paintings, and Vombsjön Lake supplies water to Malmö. The town holds a Guinness record for its spit-baked spettekaka cake and keeps a quiet feel with low houses along three main streets. Once a railway center, Sjöbo now sits where roads cross central Scania, serving as a practical base for exploring the area’s history and quiet countryside.

Sjöbo Marknad: July Fair With Crafts, Food, and Rides

Sjöbo’s July fair, running since 1864, takes over the town for several days each summer. Pottery stalls line the streets alongside vendors selling handmade wooden toys and woven textiles. Watch blacksmiths shape iron tools using traditional methods or hear musicians play fiddles and accordions on open-air stages. Children ride ponies or try their luck at ring-toss games near the food tents serving grilled sausages and cinnamon buns. With 100,000 visitors spread across the event grounds, the fair feels active but never overcrowded, highlighting Sjöbo’s role as a regional hub.

12th-Century Churches and Medieval Paintings

Five stone churches built in the 1100s stand in Sjöbo’s surrounding villages. Södra Åsum’s church reveals faded red-and-yellow paintings of angels and saints in its curved apse, uncovered during a 1990s restoration. Tolånga’s church retains its original wooden pulpit carved with vine motifs, and Blentarp’s ceiling displays geometric patterns once hidden under white paint. These churches have no entrance fees—walk in to see stone baptismal fonts, iron chandeliers, and altars decorated with carved figures. Local history groups sometimes lead tours explaining how the buildings reflect early Christian practices in Sweden.

Vombsjön Lake: Boating, Fishing, and Cycling

Vombsjön, Scania’s largest lake, stretches across 12 square kilometers near Sjöbo. Rent a rowboat from the dock at Hörbyvägen or cast a line for pike and perch from the fishing piers (a permit costs 50 SEK per day). Shallow areas near the shore draw flocks of gray herons and black-necked grebes during spring migrations. Swim from the sandy beach at Västra Strand between June and August, when the water warms enough for dipping. A 10-kilometer gravel path circles part of the lake, passing through stands of birch trees and fields dotted with grazing sheep.

Spettekaka Cake: Sweet Tradition With a Record

Sjöbo’s spettekaka, a tall, hollow cake baked on a rotating spit, earned the town a Guinness record in 1985 for the world’s tallest version. Local bakeries make smaller versions by layering batter onto a spinning rod over an open fire, creating a crisp, meringue-like texture. Buy a slice at the July fair or visit Konditoriet Gustafson on Kyrkogatan street, where bakers decorate cakes with piped icing patterns. The dessert pairs well with strong coffee during fika, Sweden’s daily coffee-and-pastry break.

Wooden Cabins and Farmhouse Stays

Sleep in a red-painted wooden cabin at Kerstin’s Cottage, which includes a sauna and views of wheat fields from its porch. Near Oderup village, the 19th-century Sungård farmhouse rents rooms with hand-painted furniture and access to a kitchen with a cast-iron stove. A guesthouse outside Vollsjö village provides space for six guests, with a private yard under old apple trees. Most rentals include bicycles for trips to nearby villages or the lake, and hosts often suggest walking paths through nearby oak forests.

Getting to Sjöbo and Day Trips

Sjöbo sits where Route 13 meets Route 23, connecting Malmö (45 minutes by car) and Ystad (35 minutes). Buses run hourly from Lund on weekdays, dropping passengers near the town’s central square. Free parking spaces surround the tourist office on Storgatan street, where you can grab maps of walking routes. Drive 40 minutes east to explore Österlen’s art studios or head west to Lund Cathedral, a 12th-century building with carved stone crypts. Check the tourist office’s board for local events like flea markets or choir performances.