Eriksmåla’s history is reflected in a range of details: a market tradition dating back to the 18th century, old road routes, and its collection of art and buildings. Exercise is also a tangible part of the area, with an illuminated trail stretching 1.25 kilometres. This offers travellers several starting points for planning a visit—from the annual market to features of the town that are interesting in their own right.
Market Tradition and Market Square
The Eriksmåla market has been held regularly since the 1770s. The tradition includes a spring market every June and an autumn market every September. If you are planning your trip around one of the markets, you can check the exact event date in advance. The two market months provide a seasonal guide without specifying the date of either event.
The market square is lined with a long row of interconnected wooden market stalls. The market’s history can therefore be experienced not only as a recurring event, but also through a built feature of the town. The stalls and the market tradition offer two distinct aspects: a long-running event passed down through generations, and the visible form of the market square.
Historic Road Routes
The historic Landsvägen through Eriksmåla dates from the late 17th century. Another road story concerns the Kungsvägen: its old route was moved slightly east in Eriksmåla and today corresponds to National Road 28. The age of the route is the focus for Landsvägen, while the Kungsvägen is notable for the change to its course and what it corresponds to today.
There is also an old road north of Eriksmåla with sections where the narrow carriageway has not been widened. This preserved road form adds another feature of the cultural landscape alongside the two historic routes. Taken together, these details offer different insights into the town’s roads and paths, without suggesting that the routes described are one and the same.
Artwork and Glass Spheres
Bertil Vallien’s artwork Fyrbåken is located in the Eriksmåla roundabout and was inaugurated in 2011. It consists of a rectangular steel column with a basket at the top. The basket holds 1,000 mouth-blown glass spheres from the now-closed Åfors glassworks. This description covers the work’s structure as well as the number, production method and origin of the spheres.
School Complex and Craftsmen’s Houses
A preserved school complex with the character of the 1930s comprises a large schoolhouse with high windows and a gymnasium. A preserved teachers’ residence stands nearby on its own plot. These three components give the complex a clear architectural layout: the schoolhouse, the gymnasium and the separate residence. The site can therefore be seen as a connected local feature, rather than just a single school building.
South of Eriksmåla, Hantverkargatan is lined with numerous old craftsmen’s houses, outbuildings and gardens. Here, it is above all the streetscape that stands out: the outbuildings and gardens are part of the described collection, along with the houses. This gives a different impression of the town from the school complex, where several specific buildings form a distinct site.
Exercise Trail and Glass Design
The illuminated exercise trail in Eriksmåla is 1.25 kilometres long and starts at the end of Vallmovägen. It is one of four illuminated exercise trails in Emmaboda Municipality. Its length and named starting point provide two specific details for planning your visit; the trail adds a clearly defined opportunity for exercise to the town’s history.
Erikshyttan is also part of the history of glass design in Eriksmåla. Lars Sø, Maja Cunningham and Simon Holm founded Erikshyttan there in 1991. New forms and techniques are created and tested at the glassworks. This offers a different perspective on glass from Fyrbåken: rather than a finished artwork, the focus here is on developing and testing forms and techniques.
Discover more destinations: Emmaboda, Långasjö.
For the wider travel overview: Emmaboda.
