Day trip treasure 9. The Great Alvar

World Heritage, southern Öland's agricultural landscape

From Karlevi in the west to Gårdby in the east, and all the way down to the southern tip, a wondrous landscape and a unique cultural heritage presents itself. The Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland, a World Heritage Site, consists of linear villages, cultivated farmland, seaside pastures and the Great Alvar. Agriculture on Öland dates back thousands of years. The specific conditions on the island mean that only part of the land can be cultivated. The Great Alvar and the seaside pastures along the Baltic Sea are not suitable for farming and have mostly been used as grazing fields. This has created the unique medieval agricultural landscape we see today, which is farmed with modern equipment. Much of Southern Öland which today may be regarded as nature's untouched beauty, is actually the result of a successful interplay between man and nature. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, this agricultural landscape is considered to be one of the world's most unique places.

The road between Resmo and Stenåsa

Along the road between Resmo and Stenåsa, the flat and majestic alvar plains spread out into the vastness of the world's biggest alvar - the Great Alvar. Halfway between the villages lies Möckelmossen, the alvar's biggest lake, a breeding place for many species of birds. Here you will find a parking area, information displays and a toilet.

Öland's test field

In the 1950-60s, 184 pieces of white-painted concrete were laid out across the Great Alvar. The locations were not random: seen from above, the objects form a clear pattern. In 1955, work began to test the accuracy of cameras used in aerial photography. Before then, such cameras had only been tested
into laboratories. The results became internationally renowned and, as a consequence, camera manufacturers were forced to make adjustments to their products. Most of these concrete slabs can still be found today. Why
not go out on a hiking trip or run on the seriousness and see how many you can discover? Möckelmossen's resting area is a good starting point.

Gettlinge burial field

The field stretches almost 2 km, which makes this one of the largest burial fields on Öland. Of the original 250 graves, about 200 remain today. At the northern end of the burial field stands an impressive 30-metre long ship tumulus (stone ship) consisting of 23 upright blocks of granite with 20 or so cup marks.

Gettlinge Graveyard

The burial ground is one of the largest on Öland, with a length of almost two kilometers that runs north from Gettlinge village. Today, more than 200 graves remain of the original 250. On the northern part of the burial ground is an impressive 30-meter-long shipwreck consisting of 23 erected granite blocks with about twenty bowl pits.

recorded stories in the world heritage

Södra Öland's farming landscape is the story of how the farmers, generation after generation, create a unique farming landscape with row villages, fields, lake lands and alvar lands.

Now you can listen to recorded stories that highlight the unique values of the World Heritage Site and its different eras. They are reached via hiking and cycling trails that meander through Södra Öland's agricultural landscape.

The following stories are highlighted:

Lundastugan (Kastlösa): A small ore site at the edge of Stora alvaret.
Frösslunda källerbacke: During the 1800th century, farmers on Öland began growing potatoes and frost-protected and dark storage areas were then needed
Stora alvaret, the world's largest contiguous alvar land.
Beijershamn: a harbor project that developed into one of Öland's most important birding areas
Järnvägsbanken: On September 30, 1961, the last train ran on Öland's railway
Gammalsby Lakelands: The grazed grasslands and shallow beaches are perfect environments for both nesting and resting birds.
Bergsstigen: In the cultivated landscape there is an industrial landscape with 300 years of stone industry.
Möckelmossen: Stora Alvar's largest lake.
Station Linné: Deciduous forest meets elves.
World Heritage Södra Öland's agricultural landscape: One of Sweden's 15 world heritage sites.
The citizens of Öland: The citizens bear witness to an exciting time in the island's history.
Tingstad Flisor: Two pieces of three-meter high limestone chips in the middle of Öland's great elves.
Mysinge hög: A burial mound from the Bronze Age that offers a splendid view over the fertile Mörbylångadalen and Stora alvaret.
The Öland farm animals
Charles X wall
Mörbylångadalen: The World Heritage's most fertile lands.
Näsby: One of the world heritage villages
The Sandbergen festival site
Klovenhall: A cracked shifting block left behind by the ice sheet. Klovenhall means split pour.
Linné's cave: A cave along the mountain path.

Now find all places here?

why should you experience a world heritage site?

World heritage sites can tell the story of both nature and human history. By protecting and preserving what is unique, we can learn from each other, no matter what time or place we come from.

6 tips on what, among other things, you can discover in the world heritage site

1. row villages

Explore Öland's row villages. The villages were created according to the rules of the old Östgötalagen from the 1200th century. The plot width against the village street would correspond to how big a share each farm had in the village. The special thing about Öland's row villages is that several of them are intact and well preserved. Unlike in the rest of Sweden, the farms have never been moved out.

2. stone walls

Admire the ancient stone walls, from medieval half-timbered walls to the straight 1800th-century block walls. One of Alvar's true hidden gems is the 30-meter-long and one-meter-high limestone wall known as the Kartmuren.

3. great seriousness

Hiking on the vast the seriousness with its unique plant and animal life. Here you can find rare plants such as ölandssolvände and over 35 species of orchids. Despite Öland's small size, 70% of all of Sweden's insects are found here, not least a completely unique butterfly fauna. Walk in the world heritage

4. the lake lands

Explore the wetlands, which are crucial nesting grounds for waders and ducks. Southern Öland is a paradise for bird enthusiasts, especially in spring and autumn when the area becomes an important resting place for migratory birds. Don't miss out Ottenby bird station, a favorite among bird watchers. More about bird watching

5.borgans, cemeteries and churches

Explore Eketorp castle, large burial grounds which Gettlingen and some of Sweden's oldest churches. These remains tell of Öland's rich history.

6. windmills

Take a trip on a "mill safari" and visit some of the 350 remaining windmills on Öland. In the past, there were almost 2.000 mills here, which were indispensable for the farmers to grind grain with. Windmills