Nåttarö – legendary royal hideout

On Nåttarö there is a cave with an extraordinary history. According to legend the island was the hiding place of Queen Maria Eleonora, who fled the country after the death of her husband King Gustav II Adolf.

Beside herself with grief, she is rumoured to have buried the King’s heart outside the cave - a heart she had carried in a golden locket around her neck. Next to the famous cave, known as Drottninggrottan, in eastern Nåttarö is Stora Sand. This is the largest sandy beach on the island and one of the best places for swimming. The outlying islands are bird sanctuaries; popular breeding grounds for guillemots, razorbills and cormorants. There is a log cabin resort with weekly rentals, but if there is availability you could also rent one for shorter periods.