Markaryds Kommun
The southwest of Småland
The municipality Markaryds Kommun is located in the southwest of Småland in the province Kronobergs Län and borders directly on the provinces Skåne Län and Hallands Län.
Until the Peace of Roskilde in 1658 the area of today's Markaryds Kommun was the border area between Sweden and Denmark. The central town of Markaryd in the south of the municipality was an important border town until that time, when in 1683 one of Sweden's first postal stations was opened for cross-border mail traffic with Denmark and the continent.
The area of Markaryds Kommun still forms a borderland, namely the transition between the flat farmlands of Skåne and the densely wooded landscapes of Småland. The southern part of the municipality is still dominated by open arable and meadow landscapes, which then change into extensive moorland and dense forest areas in a northerly direction, with some of the forests being created by reforestation of former pastures.
The predominantly flat landscape is loosened up by around 60 lakes and various watercourses. The Exen, located in the north, is the largest lake within the municipality with 3.5 square kilometres and the Lagan, the largest river, crosses the area from north to west.
Discover Markaryds nature and history
On several lakes, including Hinnerydsjön and Hammarsjön, there are several kilometres of marked trails where you can hike around the lakes and almost all of them offer good fishing opportunities. Around the urban area of Markaryd is the densest concentration of lakes and also of municipal bathing places, as for example at Getesjön or at Hannabadsjön.
The elk park Smålandet in Markaryd is a large tourist hotspot in the municipality. It is the only elk park in the world that offers elk safaris by car. And if you are a railway fan, don't miss a trip to the railway museum Skåne-Smålands Järnvägsmuseum at the historical railway tracks in Strömnäsbruk.
The municipality of Markaryd in figures
With an area of 533 square kilometres, the municipality of Markaryd is the second smallest municipality in Kronobergs Län. With slightly more than 10,000 inhabitants, the population density in the Markaryds Kommun is about 20 inhabitants per square kilometre, slightly below the Swedish average.
Almost half of the population, about 4,700 people, live in the urban area of the central town of Markaryd, a further 2,300 people live in Strömnäsbruk and less than 700 people live in Traryd, the third largest town in the municipality.