Peace and quiet but still all services within easy reach. Simrishamn, the capital of Österlen, is a genuine and beautiful small town. It is not least the town's buildings that constitute its charm. The low houses in pastel colors lie in long rows along cobblestone streets. Beautifully carved doors are also typical of the area, as are the lush gardens that lie like invisible oases behind high wooden planks.
It was probably sometime in the 13th century that it became large enough to be granted city rights. However, there have been settlements on the site since the Stone Age. Simrishamn is first mentioned in 1123 when the Norwegian king Jorsalafarare and his fleet are said to have docked here. The name of the fishing village was Svimraros, which means "the mouth of the river that floods" and refers to the Tommarp river. The fishing village grew to become an important port city, thanks to the herring, which played a crucial role in the city's economy and history. Therefore, a fish is also depicted on the town's coat of arms.
With the end of the Hanseatic League, times became more difficult and herring lost its importance. Nor did it help when the Swedes sacked the town in the mid-1600s. But during the period of freedom, merchant houses grew up. Tanner Ehrnberg laid the foundation for the city's major industry, the leather factory. You can see how this was done at the tannery museum in Strömska gården. Shipping companies developed as trade grew, and by the end of the 19th century Österlen had Sweden's largest sailing ship fleet. In Simrishamn, the Björkengren family owned no less than seventy ships.
St. Nicolai's Church dates from the 12th century and is built in gray stone. For a long time the church was clad in gray cement, but during a visit to Simrishamn the artist Carl Milles promised to donate a sculpture if the cement was knocked off. Now it sparkles again in gray hall stone and the Milles sculptures float on the lawn. Famous are the pulpit bearing the nameplate of Christian IV, the magnificently designed baptismal font, the medieval crucifix and the oldest votive ship in the East from 1776.
The sea and nature characterize the atmosphere. Visit Österlen's museum, Apotekarns Mediterranean garden, Autoseum with Frasses & Marianne's music museum, Nordic Sea Winery, the merchants' farms, Hotell turistgården's rosarium, Rosentorget, Art Museum Gösta Werner & the sea and much more. Shop in the city's stores and have a coffee in one of the many cafés or enjoy a good menu in the city's restaurants. From Simrishamn station, Pågatågen trains run almost every hour between Simrishamn and Malmö. Express buses run to Lund and Kristianstad and local buses run to other villages in the municipality.
