Just like the quaint small village of St. Mary Mead, Midsomer county, Jersey and Sandhamn, Ystad is plagued by murders. Henning Mankells’ Swedish detective Kurt Wallander solves the most fascinating and gruesome crimes in this quiet town in southern Sweden.

In the eerie morning light of this otherwise beautiful July day, I set off on my Wallander tour. Only sanitation workers and a couple of market stall salesmen preparing for the day were out, creating an even more ominous aura over the quiet city center. Was I an unsuspicious tourist looking for trouble by following the footsteps of this depressed and disillusioned hero?

What I found was quite different. This is a beautiful small town, with a history spanning a thousand years, literally.

Let’s start with The Wallander walk.

Ystad Marina restaurant, murder scene in Wallander-city, known as restaurant Chez moi in one movie

St. Mary’s Church , Wallander got married here

Mariagatan, Wallanders home street

Mariagatan 10, Wallanders home

Mariagatan 11C chosen as Wallanders home for the movies

A fight scene when apprehending a suspect. You can order Wallanders favourite whiskey here.

Town square

In the BBC production with Kenneth Branagh, the pool was filmed as the entry and reception for the police station

Courthouse

Wallanders favourite café.

Ystad tourist bureau who’s staff helped a criminal

Hotel Continental, one of Sweden’s oldest hotels. The restaurant is one of Wallanders favourites.

One of Wallanders favourite restaurants

Ystad theatre

Ystad monastery was disguised as an orthodox cathedral

Later on in the afternoon, we went for a stroll and some lunch. On a sunny summer day, the town center was vibrant with action and visitors.

Sleepy town

Where have all the flowers gone…

Rose garden of the manastery

Quick lunch from the international food market

Happy with churros