Culture history

The Kinda area has a long history. The first inhabitants settled here about 5 000 years ago. The system of lakes and waterways was the natural means of transportation,
The road to the town of Kalmar is the most importanr road through southern Östergötland and it has developed from a simple riding path to a major highway. During the civil war of the 16th century the armies of king Gustav and the rebel Nils Dacke moved along this road to clash at the important battle aof Kisa in 1542. Queen Kristina rode this way when she abdicated the throne and left Sweden for Rome, and king Karl XI took this route when he was going to visit the important naval town Karlskrona.

Already in the late medieval times a market, Bartels mass, was held in Kinda where the important trade routes southwest towards Eksjö and southeast towards Gamleby crossed in Kisa.

The market was discontinued in 1904 but for centuries it was comparable to the main holidays in the area. Around 1663 Kisa became a district-court town and remained so until recently. The only reminder of the town's former dignity is the inn, which dates back to the 17th century.