Påbonäs borg

Påbonäs Borg is the remains of a castle dating back to the early Middle Ages. The castle is located between Söderåkra and Bergkvara, where it is strategically situated on the coast, not far from the Danish border.

Påbonäs Borg was strategically located on the coast not far from the Danish border. People from the German noble families Puke, Glysing and van Vitzen lived here in the 14th century.

The castle in Påbonäs was built in the first part of the 14th century when the nobility began to grow strong. The builder may have been the knight Jon Kettilsson Puke. He wrote a letter from the castle in 1339. A few years later, a letter written by his relative Puke Glysing in Påbonäs has been preserved. In the second half of the 14th century, the castle was partly transferred to the van Vitzen family through marriage. Vicke van Vitzen, the elder, was bailiff at Kalmar Castle from 1366 to 1389. He was probably in the castle quite often. His nephew Arent van Vitzen lived here in 1384-1390. After Vicke's death at the battle of Falköping in 1389 and Arent's death in 1390, Vicke van Vitzen, the younger, Arent's brother, had to hand over the castle to Queen Margaret. Another relative, Katarina Glysingsdotter, also left her share in Påbonäs, in return for the release of her husband, Johan, who had been captured at the battle of Falköping. At the end of the 14th century, Påbonäs thus became a royal castle under Queen Margaret.

The castle plateau has a diameter of 100 meters. Approximately in the middle of the plateau there has been a large solid house, 16×8 meters, built at least in its lower part in stone and brick. The house had a cellar, called the queen's wine cellar, where the taxes from the peasants were collected and where the wine from Germany was brought. The house must have been very impressive and grand. There was also housing for servants on the plateau. The castle is surrounded by a moat. Out in the water, there was an outer defense line with wooden piles. In front of the castle there was probably a small fortification with craftsmen's dwellings, stables and a sheepfold.

Several farms belonged to the castle and paid their taxes there. The peasants were probably also allowed to do day labor when the bailiff so decided.Påbonäs was a powerful knight's castle, which played a major role in the latter part of the 14th century. One wonders how the peasants experienced the castle when they arrived. How did servants and knights live inside the castle? How was the last party with Vicke van Vitzen, his brother Arent and his relatives Johan and Katarina before they went up to Falköping to defend King Albrecht in 1389? The farmers probably had to pay extra taxes and fresh German wine was brought from Kalmar. (Source: Kalmar County Museum)

Today you can visit Påbonäs Borg, whose history is immortalized in the information signs that are adjacent to the site and which bring to mind what it once was. The old moat is no longer filled with water but can be seen around the plateau from where you also have a beautiful view of the archipelago.