Eksjö

Eksjö developed during the medieval era as a natural meeting place on the roads connecting the bishoprics Linköping, Växjö and Kalmar. The city was entirely destroyed in 1568 during the Nordic Seven Years war, but was later rebuilt some 500 meters from its original location. The new city stretched in a north-south direction with the northern half separated from the southern by the church, city square, and latter also the city hotel. A major disaster hit the city in 1856 when the southern half of the city was destroyed in a major fire. Another setback for Eksjö came in the 1860s, as it was decided that the major railway connecting Stockholm with southern Sweden and Malmö would not pass Eksjö but rather the town Nässjö some 16 kilometers west of Eksjö. Due to this Eksjö was not as heavily industrialized as other cities, and as all resources where devoted to rebuilding the southern half of the city there was no urban renewal of its northern half. As a consequence of this the northern half of central Eksjö (a.k.a. "Gamla Stan" or "Old town") is one of the best preserved traditional wooden towns in Sweden, with many houses from the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries. The southern half is dominated by neo-classicist stone buildings from the latter part of the 19th century.
Eksjö has been an important military city since the 15th century and is today the seat of Eksjö garrison. It is also the seat for Höglandssjukhuset ("The Highland Hospital").
Settlements include Eksjö, Mariannelund, Ingatorp, Hult, Hjältevad and Bruzaholm.

Tourist office

• Eksjö Tourist Center

  phone: +46 381 36170
  address: Norra Storgatan 29 B

Eksjö Central Station only serves minor regional trains. However, all trains connecting Stockholm with Malmö pass through Nässjö West of Eksjö. From Nässjö you can continue towards Eksjö by bus. Most buses to Eksjö stop by the Central Station.
Eksjö is located on the intersection of Routes 40 and 32. Route 40 stretches in a West-East direction and connects to Nässjö and Jönköping in the west and continues towards Vimmerby and Västervik in the east. Route 32 continues towards Mjölby in the north and Vetlanda in the south.
Jönköping Airport JKG is the closest airport. However, it mainly serves domestic flights.

Eksjö city is very small and is best seen by foot. The rest of the municipality is most easily accessed by car.

• Aschanska gården

  phone: +46 381-365 72
  address: Norra Storgatan 18
  A preserved 19th century middle class home.

• Eksjö kyrka

  phone: +46 381-66 23 00
  address: Norra Kyrkogatan
  Built in 1889.

• Eksjö Museum

  phone: +46 381-361 60
  address: Österlånggatan 31
  Contains exhibitions regarding the history of Eksjö, the military history of Småland and 20th-century artist Albert Engström who was born in the nearby village Hult.

• Fornminnesgården

  phone: +46 381-13779
  address: Arendt Byggmästares gata 22
  A local arts-and-crafts museum in a 17th-century coppersmith's house.

• Eksjö Town Festival

  phone: +46 720088820
  Musical concerts on several live stages in central Eksjö one weekend in late August.

• Moose-safari in Skullaryd moosepark

  phone: +46 73-812 28 68

• SkurugataA ravine with a lot of beautiful natural scenery, rumored to be the hiding place of trolls and bandits.

• Antikt & gjutjärn

  phone: +46 708475014
  address: Nybrogatan 7
  Literally "Antiquities & cast iron". Has a flea market in the basement.

• Amazing Taste

  phone: +46 38110020
  address: Norra Storgatan 23
  Do you need any additional recommendations with a name like that?

• Eksjö stadshotell

  phone: +46 381-130 20
  address: Stora Torget
  One of the fancier restaurants in the city is in the city hotel.

• Peking Restaurang

  phone: +46 381-132 88
  address: Norra Storgatan 38
  A Chinese restaurant with a nice outdoor seating.

• Restaurant Sunrise

  phone: +46 38112120
  address: Norra Storgatan 19

• Via Vinetto

  phone: +46 38113111
  address: Österlånggatan 33
  A pizzeria.

• Lennarts konditori

  phone: +46 381-61 13 90
  address: Stora torget
  A nice café by the main square.

• Eksjö stadshotell

  phone: +46 381-130 20
  address: Stora Torget

• Hotell Vaxblekaregården Hotel

  phone: +46 381 140 40
  address: Arendt Byggmästares gata 8

• Eksjö Vandrarhem

  phone: +46 381-133 00
  address: Norra Storgatan 29

• Hultsfred - famous for its pop festival.
• Jönköping - the biggest city in Småland is located on the shores of lake Vättern. Known as "Sweden's Jerusalem".
• Kalmar - famous for its medieval castle, where the Kalmar Union was founded in 1397.
• Nybro - centre of "Glasriket" (the realm of glass), Småland's historical glassworks, whereof several are still acitve today.
• Oskarshamn - a coastal town with a nearby archipelago.
• Vimmerby - home of Astrid Lindgren and seat for the Astrid Lindgren's World theme park.
• Växjö - seat of Kronoberg County, the episcopal see of the Diocese of Växjö, and home to the main campus of Linnaeus University.
• Älmhult - The first IKEA store, and birthplace of Carl Linnaeus.