Torkö

There is plenty to explore and discover on the island of Torkö. There was a monastery on the island in the fifteenth century. The island also featured a stone like marble, which the monks thought resembled St Clare, the female saint of the Franciscans, which gave the monastery its name (Sankta Clara). King John of Denmark gave the island of Helgeö, just north of Torkö, to the monastery in return for them delivering one barrel of salted cod per year to Sölvesborg Castle. Today there is only a small wall of the monastery left. What can still be seen on Torkö, however, is the renowned quarry used in the twentieth century, which was filled with water at some point in the 1970s. This has made the location a popular tourist destination for daring swimmers who jump from the high rocks. Divers also appreciate the quarry as there are large areas for diving and a number of strange things on the bottom like old machinery tyres. Besides the quarry, there is also a lovely sea bay with a sandy beach, perfect for swimming. Just next to Torkö is the campsite Ronneby Havscamping with several options to choose from for accommodation and also bike, kayak and rowing boat hire.