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Stone wall and stand on Stora alvaret

alexander hall

02 June 2021

Ten Excursion Pearls

#9 Great Alvaret, Southern Öland

beautiful world heritage, secret testing field & colorful orchids

From Karlevi in the west to Gårdby in the east and then all the way down to the southern tip of Öland stretches a beautiful landscape and a unique cultural area. The row villages, the cultivated land, the sea lands and the Great Alvar together form the World Heritage Site Southern Öland's agricultural landscape. Öland has been farmed for thousands of years. Due to the special conditions, only part of the island is suitable for cultivation. The large alva and the sea lands by the Baltic Sea have not been able to be cultivated and have mainly functioned as pasture. This means that today we can experience something as unique as a medieval agricultural landscape that is cultivated with modern machinery. Much of what can be experienced on southern Öland as the untouched beauty of nature is in fact a successful interaction between man and nature. The agricultural landscape has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2000 as one of the world's most unique places.

Read more about the world heritage.

Orchids at Stora alvaret

Stora Alvaret on Öland – a unique world heritage site with open alvar landscape
UNESCO World Heritage Site – one of Europe's most distinctive natural environments
Vast limestone lands with rich plant and animal life
Perfect for hiking, cycling and nature experiences

Rare plants, orchids and grazing animals in open landscape
Historical remains such as ancient castles and old farmlands
Magnificent views and a sense of untouched nature
One of Öland's most iconic and nature-friendly excursions

Hike seriously, Möckelmossen

1. The road between Resmo and Stenåsa

From Karlevi in the west to Gårdby in the east and then all the way down to the southern tip of Öland stretches a wonderful landscape and a unique cultural area. The row villages, the cultivated land, the lake lands and Stora alvaret together form the world heritage Södra Öland's agricultural landscape. Agriculture has been practiced on Öland for thousands of years. Due to the special conditions, only part of the island can be cultivated. Stora alvaret and the lake lands by the Baltic Sea have not been able to be cultivated but have mainly functioned as pasture. This means that today we can experience something as unique as a medieval farming landscape cultivated with modern machinery. Much that in southern Öland can be experienced as nature's untouched beauty is in fact a successful interaction between man and nature. Since 2000, the agricultural landscape has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List as one of the world's most unique places.

2. Öland's test field

In the 1950s and 60s, 184 white-painted concrete covers were placed on Stora alvaret. It was no accident, from above they form a clear pattern. In 1955, work began to test the accuracy of cameras in aerial photography. Before that, the cameras had only been tested in laboratories. The results became world famous and meant that the camera manufacturers had to make adjustments to their cameras. Even today it is possible to find most of these concrete lids. Go on a serious hike or run and see how many you find, start at the Möckelmossen rest area.

3. The map wall

One of Alvar's true hidden gems is the 30-meter-long and one-meter-high limestone wall known as the Kartmuren. It was erected in the 1920s and has been used as a starting point to measure the severity. It is most easily reached from the Bårby Källa footpath. About 2 km into the trail, you walk along the middle wall, continue until you reach a stile. From here you can see the map wall about 300 meters northeast of the statte.

Gettlinge Cemetery

4. Gettlinge cemetery

The grave field 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 out of the original 250. In the northern part of the burial ground, there is an impressive 30-meter-long ship set consisting of 23 raised granite blocks with about twenty bowl pits.

Hike on Stora alvaret

listen to 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.

food & drink on southern Öland

On southern Öland there are several unique food experiences where the surroundings become part of the taste. Also take the opportunity to visit nearby farm shops, where you will find local ingredients and flavors to take home with you. Here, food, environment and local produce are combined - perfect for a memorable break during your excursion.

cycling & hiking in the alvar

The barren alvaret, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an obvious starting point for extensive walks and bike rides. Let yourself be embraced by the barren landscape with its light, space and scents and marvel at what lives here.

Bårby - Source

Stora alvaret, southern Öland 1,8 km and 6 km, trails with audio guide

Gösslunda - Tingstad

Stora alvaret, southern Öland 3,5 km

Penåsa Ödeby

South Öland 2 km

Penåsa - Tingstad

Stora alvaret, southern Öland 5 km

The World Heritage Tour

Southern Öland - 51.5 km

Millersten hiking trail

Stora alvaret, southern Öland 7.2 km

The Fornborg round

South Öland 19,6 km

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. The Great Elf

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 Sealands

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

ten Öland excursion gems

Share more tips or see all ten excursion gems here!

#2 Boda, northern Öland

#5 Borgholm, Central Öland

#8 as the crow flies, southeastern Öland

#4 northeast side

#6 castle to castle, middle island

#10 southern cape, southern island

#1 the northern tip, northern Öland

#7 Mörbylångadalen, southern Öland

#3 Stone Coast, Northern Öland