Södra Vi: Culture, History and Cycling Routes

Södra Vi combines traces of cultural history with varied opportunities for a cycling holiday. Between the church, former spa facilities, sculptures and paths through forests and landscapes, you can enjoy a range of different holiday experiences: you can explore the history of the village, plan a cycling route or attend seasonal events. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home, it is therefore particularly useful to consider whether you want to focus on culture, active days or a combination of both.

The Church, Spa History and Traces of Earlier Times

The old church village of Södra Vi was located immediately north of the church and along the former country road between Linköping and Kalmar. The present nave of Södra Vi Church was completed in 1755; that year, the church was inaugurated by Bishop Ryhzelius. Södra Vi Church also contains two medieval wooden sculptures transferred from the old church, depicting St Olov and St Maria. This gives the village historical details that can easily become a cultural focus of your travel plans.

Södra Vi Hälsobrunn is also part of the village’s history. It was founded in 1759 by Provost Arendt Grape and operated until 1946. Tools dating back around 4,000 years have been found in the area around Krön near Södra Vi. At Krönsborg, in the surroundings of Södra Vi, there are presumed medieval remains. Those interested in long periods of history will find several points of interest here – from early settlement to the development of spa culture.

Sculptures and Cultural Discoveries

Another cultural highlight is the Agne Lindblad Museum. It displays around 150 wood-carved sculptures depicting people in various everyday situations. The works mainly show groups of people in smaller or larger everyday scenes from the early 20th century. The building was originally the former gymnasium of a spa complex and was completely renovated and converted into a museum in 2015. The museum building is wheelchair accessible and has an accessible toilet. This combination of everyday depictions, wooden art and architectural history also makes the museum interesting for travellers who want to experience culture through more than just major historic buildings.

There is a Midsummer celebration in Brunnsparken in Södra Vi. If you would like to combine your trip with a traditional event, this is one of the local points of interest to take into account when making your own plans. The Södra Vi branch library has MerÖppet; its premises can be rented free of charge for association meetings, study groups and similar purposes.

Cycling Routes with Different Terrain Profiles

For active holiday days, the “Krön runt” cycling route starts and ends in Södra Vi. The route is slightly more than 20 kilometres long and has 160 metres of elevation gain. After a few kilometres, the route reaches Torp Krönsborg.

The Södra Vi–Mjösjöhult–Bäckhult route leads west from Södra Vi and runs around Bäckhult and Mjösjöhult. Another route option is Södra Vi–Skillingarum–Skäfshult, which consists in roughly equal parts of gravel roads, forest roads and paved roads. When crossing the Högerumsån, this route can be difficult to pass in early spring when water levels are temporarily high. The Södra Vi–Marstad–Dabbetorp route begins on a forest road and ends on a particularly beautiful path towards Lilla Vi. Depending on your preferred surface and the season, you can therefore include different routes in your holiday itinerary.

Getting There and Planning Suitable Accommodation

Transport connections can also play a role in your planning. A local bus service runs from Djursdala to Södra Vi on Fridays. A supplementary service to Vimmerby operates on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as on market days. If these days of the week are relevant to your trip, you should take them into account when choosing your travel dates. For a holiday apartment or holiday home in Södra Vi, you can then consider whether the village is a suitable base for your preferred cultural and cycling experiences. The deciding factors are not special promises about the accommodation, but rather the activities you want to enjoy and the days on which you plan to be out and about.

For further orientation, you can also explore Tuna, Solnehult, Pelarne, Gullringen, Storebro and Vimmerby.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Vimmerby.