Öland is an island in the Baltic Sea, located off the coast of Småland.
Archaeological evidence indicates the island of Öland was settled about 8000 BCE, with excavations dating to the paleolithic era showing the presence of hunter-gatherers. In the early Stone Age settlers from the mainland migrated across the ice bridge that connected the island across the Kalmar Strait. There are nineteen Iron Age ringforts identified on the island, only one of which, Eketorp, has been completely excavated, yielding over 24,000 artifacts.
The Borgholm Castle was built in 1669-1681 for Queen Hedvig Eleonora, and designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Elder. In its vicinity sits the Solliden Palace, summer home to the royal family.
The limestone pavement habitat of southern Öland, known as Stora Alvaret, has been entered as a site of the UNESCO World Heritage program. Features of this are the many rare species found; prehistory sites such as Gettlinge and Eketorp; numerous old wooden windmills left standing, some of which date to the 17th century; and the special geological alvar landscape.
Öland has since a decade back organized an annual harvest festival Skördefesten every October in which the island farmers come together with farmers from the rest of the country and sell their crops and let those that are interested take part of the every day life on their farms only to mention a few among many activities. There are also many art exhibitions for display during Skördefesten especially during the art night Konstnatten.