Horn's royal estate
Village with medieval origins that was established as a royal barn by Gustav Vasa. Ruins from the 1500th century and restored ancient field, meadow and pasture landscape. Kungsgården is still in state ownership.
During the latter part of the Middle Ages, Horn was a village consisting of six farms. All the farms were owned by the farmers themselves. Horn's royal estate was formed in 1551 when Gustav Vasa evicted the six tax farmers in the village and combined the farms into a royal estate. The farm was managed in the future by a bailiff who had an accounting obligation to the king. One of the tasks of the royal farms was to deliver goods that the king needed, and in the mid-1550s, Gustav Vasa ordered that the lime found at Horn should be sent to Kalmar, where it was needed better. At the same time, the king writes to the fatabur's wife Anna in Stockholm that she should find out about the skins and cheeses that came from Horn and Borgholm's barns when she has checked the weight. Through written source material, we know that Gustav Vasa and his son Erik XIV visited the estate for short periods of time. Over time, the farm was rented out and the farm's chores were managed by the day laborers of the people who lived on the up to 18 crofts that were under Horn. In the 1900th century, there was also a certain state establishment. Today, some of these crofts still exist, but as holiday homes.
Horn's first farm structure is not known from its appearance, but there are many indications that it was located in the same place as today. The main building consists of a large hall building under a broken roof. A fire in 1941 destroyed most of the economy buildings, but many were rebuilt on the same site. Beekeeping in the 1500th century can be mentioned among industries that occurred. In the 1800th century there was a brandy distillery down by Hornsjön. Fishing in Hornsjön has made a significant addition to the farm's economy, with, among other things, significant eel fishing. Hornsjön is today Öland's only inland lake and leaves a big mark on the area. The lowering of the lake was completed in 1910 and then included 1,3 meters. It can be noted that the water surface was part of the Baltic Sea until around AD 700-800 and until then constituted a protected bay. At the western edge of the lake is the fabled Klosterholmen. As the name suggests, the stone ruin found here has long been associated with monastic activity, which today can be dismissed. Instead, it is a so-called fixed house, that is, a medieval manor house with a defensive function, a private castle. There are also other ancient remains at Hornsjön. To the south of the farm there are, among other things, remains of four Iron Age farms with associated stone string systems. In addition to additional house plot areas, there are also graves and an area with fossil fields next to Hornsmosse.
Horn's first farm structure is not known from its appearance, but there are many indications that it was located in the same place as today. The main building consists of a large hall building under a broken roof. A fire in 1941 destroyed most of the economy buildings, but many were rebuilt on the same site. Beekeeping in the 1500th century can be mentioned among industries that occurred. In the 1800th century there was a brandy distillery down by Hornsjön. Fishing in Hornsjön has made a significant addition to the farm's economy, with, among other things, significant eel fishing. Hornsjön is today Öland's only inland lake and leaves a big mark on the area. The lowering of the lake was completed in 1910 and then included 1,3 meters. It can be noted that the water surface was part of the Baltic Sea until around AD 700-800 and until then constituted a protected bay. At the western edge of the lake is the fabled Klosterholmen. As the name suggests, the stone ruin found here has long been associated with monastic activity, which today can be dismissed. Instead, it is a so-called fixed house, that is, a medieval manor house with a defensive function, a private castle. There are also other ancient remains at Hornsjön. To the south of the farm there are, among other things, remains of four Iron Age farms with associated stone string systems. In addition to additional house plot areas, there are also graves and an area with fossil fields next to Hornsmosse.