Tommarp: Monastic Site, Church and Agricultural Landscape

Tommarp between a Monastic Site and Open Countryside

Tommarp combines an unusually rich history with an open, gently rolling agricultural landscape. Those looking for holiday accommodation in Tommarp will find a place where discoveries related to church history, museum visits and peaceful impressions of the countryside can be combined. The historical traces reach far back: around 1150, a Premonstratensian monastery was established in Thumatorp. The early settlement in Tommarp included longhouses and pit houses spread across an area measuring 140 × 250 metres.

The later development of the village can also still be traced. In the 18th century, the farms in Tommarp were still arranged along the street pattern of the medieval town. The church village of Östra Tommarp lies next to the old monastic site. North of the church village, a railway station village developed after a station was built in the 1880s. These different historical layers give Tommarp more than just a single point of interest: they make the village a destination for travellers interested in evolved settlement patterns.

Church, Monastery Square and Museums

A central point of interest is the church of Östra Tommarp. It was completed in 1857 and replaced the S.ta Maria Church, which had probably stood on this site since the 12th century. Outside, the attractive stepped gables and the decoratively designed cornice stand out. Inside, the five panels of the pulpit display carved figures of Christ and the four Evangelists. The figures come from an older pulpit dating from the beginning of the 17th century.

Klosterplatsen, an open square measuring approximately 40 × 40 metres, recalls the former monastery complex. The ruins of the large Premonstratensian monastery are partly concealed by the square. The church portal excavated at Klosterplatsen in the summer of 1999 can be viewed there. For a more in-depth visit, the old schoolhouse is also worth seeing. Built in 1727, it houses a school museum, a parish museum and a monastery museum. This means that a stay in Tommarp can be tailored to your interests, whether in architecture, sacred art, local history or monastic history.

Plan Your Landscape and Journey Carefully

The landscape complements the historical character of the village. The Tommarpsån flows through a pronounced valley south of the church village of Östra Tommarp. West of the church village, an old lime kiln stands near the Tommarpsån. Those who focus on the character of the village rather than on a single excursion destination when choosing accommodation can incorporate these varied impressions into their own daily itinerary.

For journey planning, it is also important to note that the train stops in the neighbouring village of Gärsnäs, which lies about two kilometres from Östra Tommarp. When searching for a holiday apartment or holiday house, you can therefore first decide whether you want to focus your stay primarily on the monastic site and museums, the historical settlement structure or the landscape along the Tommarpsån. Tommarp offers a clearly recognisable cultural focus without the open surroundings disappearing from the overall travel experience.

More Places for Your Travel Plans

Rörum, Simrishamn, Hammenhög, Brantevik, Gladsax, Vitaby, Skillinge and Gärsnäs.

To the higher-level travel overview: Simrishamn.