Vissefjärda: Church, Church Stables and Törn

Vissefjärda Church is a stone church and was consecrated on 28 February 1773. Inside is an altarpiece painted by Pehr Hörberg in 1795. Next to the church, the Dacke Stones commemorate Nils Dacke; on their upper part, a crossbow points towards Stockholm.

In the linked travel section: Vissefjärda, Kalmar, Emmaboda, Nybro, Oskarshamn, Mörbylånga, Borgholm, Hultsfred

Culture

The bells of Vissefjärda Church hang in a bell tower whose current structure dates from the 19th century. The present Vissefjärda Church Stables were built in 1855 and could accommodate 200 horses. The local heritage museum in the Church Stables displays old everyday objects and household goods that were used and often made by people from more than 100 villages in the parish.

The museum also includes an exhibition of old postcards from Vissefjärda, reflecting the period from 1900 onwards. The Vissefjärda Church Stables are open Monday to Friday from 1 July to 9 August, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.; coffee service, museum visits and guided tours are available there.

In the vicinity of Vissefjärda, Kyrkeby Bränneri is located by the Lyckebyån. It is considered Sweden’s best-preserved schnapps distillery, today produces schnapps using potatoes as the raw material, and offers guided tours. The site comprises 28 buildings, including a malt house, a building for the spirits cistern, a schnapps room, a potato cellar and a warehouse. In 2000, Kyrkeby Bränneri was declared one of the listed historic buildings of Kalmar County.

Since 2017, the historic steam engine at Kyrkeby Bränneri in the vicinity has been operated annually to produce schnapps from locally grown potatoes. A historic steam engine is also fired up at the annual Midsummer celebration, causing its wheels to turn and smoke to rise from the chimney. Since 1984, the Midsummer celebration at the Vissefjärda Church Stables has been supplemented by amateur plays; locals perform them, and their subjects are based on local historical events.

Water and landscape

The accessible Törestorps bathing place on Lake Törn in Vissefjärda has a ramp into the water, an accessible toilet and shower, and tables for wheelchair users. It also has changing facilities, a shower, benches and tables, a swing set and a barbecue. On the outskirts of Vissefjärda there is a bathing place with a campsite.

The facilities at the Vissefjärda campsite were newly built in 2021; the campsite is open seasonally from 1 May to 30 September. Kallmanstorpet is situated in a scenic setting near Lake Törn and within reach of Vissefjärda.

Activities

Vissefjärda has the 18-hole Björketorpsbanan golf course and a short course at Kyrksjön. For running and fitness sessions, Vissefjärda GoIF maintains routes measuring 1,250 metres, 2.5 kilometres and 5 kilometres; two of the routes are lit.

In winter, cross-country ski trails are prepared in the Vissefjärda area using a snowmobile. The ice rink at the sports ground of Vissefjärda School is iced by Vissefjärda GIF. Vissefjärda Bio is now operated by the Vissefjärda Bio association and regularly shows films, including in 3D.

History

The Vissefjärda Hembygdsförening offers a self-guided tour through Nils Dacke’s home region, with a map and places to visit. Finds of stone and flint tools near the Lyckebyån and its branches within Vissefjärda provide evidence that people have lived and worked here for thousands of years.

In the Middle Ages, Vissefjärda was an important border area in trade with Denmark; the so-called Dacke Feud took place here in 1542–1543. Vissefjärda railway station was established in 1874. In 2021, the local heritage association built a new pedestrian and cycle bridge by the church.

Next to the church are remains that may possibly be parts of the defensive structure Vesa borg.

To the higher-level travel overview: Kalmar.