Sweden’s two southernmost provinces, Skane and Blekinge, together form Southern Gotaland, with the country’s third largest city, Malmo, as the region’s main town and gateway to Europe. The gentle, undulating landscape retains its Danish atmosphere from times past. Castles and medieval and Viking sites abound, and the historic naval port of Karlskrona is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The province of Skane has an undeserved reputation for being completely flat, but apart from the plain of Soderslatt the countryside is surprisingly hilly with the rocky ridges of Soderasen, Linderodsasen and Romaleasen dividing the region. To the northwest, the area is bounded by the imposing Hallandsasen ridge.

The province of Blekinge, criss-crossed by rivers and lakes, is known as the Garden of Sweden. It has its own island archipelago with sheltered harbours beloved by sailors. North, towards the border with Smaland, the slightly wild forest landscape predominates.