Värnanäs herrgård, Manor house in Kalmar Municipality, Sweden
Värnanäs herrgård is a manor house in Kalmar Municipality built in the early 1790s with classical architecture and a formal layout. The main residence sits at the center of the estate surrounded by several outbuildings and large landscaped gardens that follow the English style popular among Swedish nobles.
The estate was first documented in 1495 and became a royal residence under King Gustav Vasa in the 1500s. The current building was constructed under military officer Carl Mannerskantz in the late 1780s and established its lasting form.
The estate showcases how Swedish landowners adopted European design ideas in the late 1700s, blending local building traditions with international influences visible in its layout. Walking through the grounds today, you can see how the landscaped park and central building reflected the refined tastes of the period.
The property sits near the waterfront and is best visited during dry weather for comfortable walking around the grounds. Plan enough time to explore both the main building and the surrounding estate, including the various outbuildings scattered across the landscape.
A shipyard on the property built the sailing ship Octavia in the early 1800s, which departed from Kalmar for South Africa in 1862. This connection to maritime history reveals how the estate played a role in the region's seafaring heritage.
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