Skärva Manor, northwest of Karlskrona on the mainland, was the country retreat of Fredrik Henrik af Chapman, the naval architect who in the late 18th century designed and oversaw the rebuilding of the entire Swedish navy. Chapman was one of the most influential ship designers of his era — his ships were faster and more manoeuvrable than anything else afloat — and he spent his working life in Karlskrona.
The manor house he built at Skärva is a fine example of Swedish Gustavian neoclassicism: restrained, elegant, and set in a landscaped park that runs down to a small lake. The grounds include a remarkable Chinese pavilion, a bath house, and formal gardens. The estate can be reached by car from Karlskrona in about 20 minutes and is open to visitors during the summer. If you are interested in the naval history that shaped Karlskrona, standing in Chapman's private garden gives a different kind of perspective than the dockyard.