Hostels in Kronoberg

The county of Kronoberg is located in the province of Småland in southern Sweden. Founded in 1674, the 3,269 square-mile region is filled with churches, cathedrals, castles, museums, parks, and glass artwork which attract visitors from around the world.

Växjö is the capital of Kronoberg and part of the famous, so-called Glasriket, or Glass Kingdom. Since 1742, glass blowing and glass art have been the most enticing and well-known aspect of the surrounding area.

The budget-minded traveler can find hostels as well as dormitory-style B&B’s and inns in cities throughout Kronoberg, including Växjö, Boda Glasbruk, Stromsnasbruk, and Lammhult. On average, hostels in Kronoberg receive high ratings from guests who tend to like the surrounding nature as well as the onsite restaurants.

The best way to start your travels through Kronoberg is to begin in the capital. Once you have settled into a hostel in Växjö or the surroundings, you are ready to explore this Kingdom of Crystal. Your first stop should be the Swedish Glass Museum, where you will learn about the history of glass. You will see many objects created out of glass as well as beautiful pieces of glass artwork. Unfortunately, there is no English guide; yet you will be able to appreciate the aesthetic value of the glass pieces no matter what language you speak. For the cost of your entrance ticket, you also get to enter the adjacent Småland Museum as well as Utvandrarnas Hus (Emigrant House).

Once you have familiarized yourself with the history of glass in the museum, you are ready to take a day-trip over to Kosta, a town about 30 miles (50 kilometers) and a 40-minute drive away from the capital. The name of the town is derived from the last names of the two individuals who began the art of glass-blowing: Anders Koskull and Georg Bogislaus Stael von Holstein. Today, Kosta is synonymous with the term “glass art.”

Once you have reached Kosta, you can begin by visiting the Kosta Boda Glass Factory which was founded in 1742 and initiated the entire glass art genre. Although the original factory is no longer in operation, it is now a museum where you can see some of the most amazing glass sculptures created by many different master glass artists.

Two of the master artists from Kosta Boda founded another glass factory in a little nearby village called Transjö, or Crane Lake. Next to a river in this village, master artists Jan-Erik Ritzman and Sven-Åke Carlsson opened the small hytte, or glass factory, in 1982. Today you can still find this glass workshop, named Transjö Hytta, in the middle of the village forest. There you will lay your eyes on some of the most unique and exquisitely detailed glass masterpieces in all of Sweden, which also would make ideal souvenirs.

Handwritten by local expert for Kronoberg hostels Jakob Lombardi