Things to do in Glasriket
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Grönåsens Ålgpark
For a close encounter with a beautiful bandy-legged elk, head for Grönåsens Ålgpark, Sweden’s biggest elk park, located 3km west of Kosta towards Orrefors. You can admire these gentle creatures on a 1.3km walk in the forested enclosure (Skr40). Ironically, you can also buy elk sausages to roast on the outdoor barbecue or purchase an elk-skin baseball cap. And, talking of horror, don’t miss the display in the building behind the shop: you’ll drive 50% slower after you’ve seen the crumpled metal and lolling tongue…
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Kosta Boda
Kosta is where Glasriket started in 1742. Today the Kosta Boda complex pulls in coach-loads of visitors, who raid the vast discount outlets (there’s even discounted designer threads these days). Funnily, Sweden even manages to make its tourist traps pleasant places. The Kosta Boda exhibition gallery (Skr30) contains some inspired creations. There are plenty of glass-blowing demos in the old factory quarters, and some great cafes and restaurants, too.
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Madesjö Hembygdsgård
There’s a superior homestead museum Madesjö Hembygdsgård, about 2.5km west of town. Housed inside the 200m-long kyrkstallarna (former church stables), it contains an admirable collection, with cannonballs, clothing, coffins, carpenters tools, a classroom and a fantastic (ice-) cycle – and they’re just the things beginning with ‘C’.
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Orrefors
Established in 1898, Orrefors is arguably the most famous of Sweden’s glassworks. The huge site is home to a factory with glass-blowing demonstrations, plus a large shop with a shipping service. The ubersleek museum-gallery showcases a range of stunning glassworks spanning 1910 to the present day, as well housing a stylish bar-cum-cafe Kristallbaren.
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Riksglasskolan
In a recently renovated 19th-century cottage opposite the hostel, Orrefors Bed & Breakfast has simple yet comfortable rooms with shared facilities. The friendly owners run short summer courses in glass-blowing (three hours, Skr300) at the nearby Riksglasskolan.
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Mats Jonasson Factory
The large and popular Mats Jonasson factory, 8km further northwest in Målerås, sells somewhat kitsch engraved glass-animal designs from around Skr159. There’s also a restaurant for a post-shopping refuel.
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Carlos R Pebaqué
Don’t miss the glassworks at Gullaskruv, about 6km northwest of Orrefors. Here, Uruguayan-born artist Carlos R Pebaqué creates extraordinary vases in his one glass oven.
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Café Kosta
Peckish punters should head for the buzzing Café Kosta inside the factory’s outlet store, with tasty quiches and grilled panini for around Skr55.
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Pukeberg
Of the two glassworks in Nybro, 130-year-old Pukeberg, just southeast of the centre, is perhaps more interesting for its quaint setting.
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Nybro
Of the two glassworks in the town of Nybro, Nybro is smaller and laced with quirky items (think Elvis Presley glass platters).
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Orrefors Värdshus
In the Orrefors factory grounds, Orrefors Värdshus is an inn that serves good lunches.
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Café Konditori
For coffee and buns, try Café Konditori attached to Målerås’ bakery.
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