HARBOURS AND FISHING VILLAGES AROUND BYXELKROK

1. Grankullaviken

Grankullaviken, formerly known as Örebovik, was an important anchorage for warships during the Middle Ages. In 1452, a naval battle between the Danish and Swedish forces took place off the bay.

2. Tokenäs

Tokenäs is one of the oldest harbour sites in northern Öland. The current reef outside the headland probably protected a sea inlet that stretched towards the village of Torp.

3. Byxelkrok

The harbour at Byxelkrok was completed in 1937 after several years of construction. Previously, there was a smaller jetty in the bay south of today's village.

4. Bölinge

From the late 18th century onwards, Bölinge had a jetty for postal and passenger traffic between Öland and Gotland.

5. Skeppstä

The name Skeppstä is thought to mean "place of boats". Finds of parts from a Viking ship suggest the site may have been a harbour already during the Viking Age.

6. Kuggeboda

Kuggeboda by Svartvik is believed to have been a medieval harbour for cogs – the cargo vessels that dominated Baltic trade during the Middle Ages.

7. Böda Harbour

Böda Harbour has been relocated at least three times over the centuries.

8. Holmebodar

At Holmebodar, farmers from Getterum, Torp and Mellby had their fishing huts. Fishing was an important supplement to farming and provided an additional source of income.

9. Sickelbodar

The five boathouses south of Neptuni Fields are one of northern Öland´s most photographed landmarks. Next to the huts stands the legendary stone Höga Flisa, which folklore says brought good fishing luck.

10. Ängjärnsudden

Along the shores north and south of Ängjärnsudden, there was early on a string of fishing huts from several villages, including Fagerrör, Bölinge, Fiskåsen, Länninge, Norra Veken, Kolkyrka, Brännabben and Tomtskog. Several huts still remain.

11. Haget

At Haget, there is a well-preserved traditional covered boathouse that shows how fishing huts in northern Öland looked in the past.

Conclusion

Besides the locations above, there were also harbours and fishing huts at Getterum and Norra Sandvik near Byrum. Many of these historic boathouses have survived to the present day.