Holiday apartment in Mjölby: Nature, Art and History

On the Östgötaleden, Mjölby combines walks close to town with longer tours through a cultural and forest landscape. The sections of the trail in the municipality run both along forest paths and through pastureland and are accessible by public transport.

Nature

In the surroundings of Mjölby, the Stora Haddebo nature reserve combines spruce forest, lichen-covered rocky outcrops, marshy woodland and an open area of moorland. At the same time, it provides a habitat for woodland birds, including the capercaillie. Örbackens kalkkärr is also designated as a Natura 2000 site in the surrounding area. There, a marked circular trail leads through pastureland and the limestone mire; wooden boardwalks cross the wet sections.

The Örbacken nature reserve can be reached from Mjölby station via an 8.2-kilometre hike on the Östgötaleden. The route also passes through the Skogssjöområdet nature reserve. This area is very hilly and was shaped by the melting of the inland ice 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. Skogssjön now lies in one of the glacial depressions. The rare yellow-flowered legume species luddvedel is also found there; on the Swedish mainland, it is known from only five other locations. The Svartån flows through Mjölby, linking nature with the urban surroundings.

Culture

Mjölby showcases art both in public spaces and in dedicated facilities. Avis metaphora is a mural by Carolina Falkholt at Lagmanshallen. It depicts various birds and a judge’s gavel, referring to the name Lagmanshallen and to the meaning of “lagman” as judge. Bilder av Mjölby was created by Adrian Pettersson in 2022 using spray paint and is located on the façade of Galleria Kvarnen on Kungsvägen in Mjölby.

A work of art by Judith de Leeuw depicts a person sitting on a unicorn above a pile of rubbish and features an augmented-reality component. Mjölby also has an art gallery operated by Mjölby konstförening.

Mjölby Kulturscen is a fully equipped concert and theatre venue at Lagmansskolan in Mjölby. It is located close to Mjölby Travel Centre; the visitor address is Lagmansgatan 34. The auditorium has three wheelchair spaces, one of which has severely restricted visibility, as well as a lift from the auditorium to the stage and a hearing loop.

History

The Kungshögarna burial site comprises 125 archaeological monuments: 20 mounds, 80 round stone settings, 9 stone circles, 12 triangular stone settings, 1 ship-shaped stone setting and 3 standing stones. Mjölby kyrka was originally built in the early Middle Ages; parts of its medieval tower have survived. The present church was consecrated in 1779 after the older church was destroyed in a major fire in 1771.

Mjölby developed from a mill village into a town. The buildings and collections at Mjölby Hembygdsgård illustrate local history from the 18th century to the present day. In the surroundings of Mjölby, the reverse side of the Högbystenen displays a family tree and the life stories of the people depicted.

Leisure

The Mjölby Konstrunda takes place every year in August. The Mjölby hembygdsförening organises several events every year, including Midsummer celebrations and a Christmas market. Lundbybadet has a 25-metre indoor swimming pool for swimming, playing, exercise and training. Canoes can be rented there for paddling on the Svartån.

You can access further local pages via Väderstad, Hogstad, Mjölby, Mantorp and Skänninge. Further destinations are available with Ydre, Motala and Åtvidaberg.

To the higher-level travel overview: Östergötland.