Norrasonarp: Church history and Nömmen

Around Norrasonarp, you can explore local history, church art and activities on Nömmen as distinct highlights. The historical traces range from a church with a long construction history to a runestone bearing an unusual Christian prayer for revenge. At the lake, you can also go fishing, swimming and kayaking. When planning your trip, it is also worth noting that the Naturrundan runs in the wider area and makes for a cycling excursion of its own.

Norra Sonarp and Björkö: History in the village and church

Norra Sonarp has been inhabited since at least the 16th century. In the 18th century, the village was a Rusthåll—a farm responsible for providing for a cavalryman. During this period, many cavalrymen lived in Norra Sonarp. The village’s history therefore includes both a specific duty of the farm and the presence of many cavalrymen.

Nearby, Björkö Church was built between 1843 and 1847. It was constructed in the widespread neoclassical style of rural churches promoted by Bishop Esaias Tegnér of Växjö. At the same time, it is considered a good example of the Empire style, whose forms are characterized by simplicity, symmetry and restrained decorative elements. Inside, the church also preserves a chalice veil dating from 1743. This brings together 19th-century building history and a much older ecclesiastical object.

The Björköby runestone

Another historical trace is the Björköby runestone. It is set into the western wall of Björkö cemetery and bears an unusual Christian prayer for revenge. This makes it a different kind of historical record from the architecture of Björkö Church: here, the focus is on a single stone and its distinctive inscription. If you want to explore historical sites, it complements the story of the church’s construction with another subject in its own right.

Water activities on Nömmen

The options on Nömmen vary depending on your interests. You can fish for zander, pike, perch, bream and tench in the lake. Since fishing conditions and regulations can change, it is best to check them before your fishing trip. Stensjöns badplats swimming area on Nömmen has a jetty with a diving tower. Kayaking is also available on Nömmen in the Nässjö area. Several businesses and clubs in Nässjö rent out kayaks and equipment; some deliver kayaks to the lake of your choice. Check with providers about rental terms and possible delivery before your trip.

Björkö, Nömmen and the Naturrundan

The landscape also offers a broader regional setting for planning excursions. Björkö is situated high on the Småland peneplain. The area around Lake Nömmen is characterized by rich deciduous woodland vegetation. These are two distinct landscape settings: elevated Björkö and the lake’s wooded surroundings.

In the wider area, the Naturrundan cycling route passes through natural areas in the northern part of Nässjö Municipality. It goes through Anneberg, Norra Solberga and Flisby. This means that, alongside the destinations on Nömmen, you can choose a cycling route with its own, broader focus. When choosing a holiday home, you can take the different distances to the destinations into account: Björkö Church, the runestone and the swimming area are in the immediate vicinity of Norra Sonarp, while the Naturrundan runs in the wider area. Tailor your search to whether you are mainly planning to explore cultural history and enjoy water activities, or whether you would also like to take a cycling excursion.

Discover more destinations: Nässjö, Anneberg, Forserum, Grimstorp, Bodafors, Malmbäck, Stensjön, Sandsjöfors.

Back to the main travel overview: Nässjö.