Gärdslösa is a village on the island of Öland, the second largest island in Sweden. It is today a part of Borgholm Municipality in Kalmar County. Around 140 inhabitants have this as their home, all in the vicinity of the former parish church.
The Swedish poet Erik Johan Stagnelius was born and raised in Gärdslösa. He was born here in 1793 and died in Stockholm in 1823.
A Short History of Gärdslösa
Gärdslösa Parish had its origins in the Middle Ages and its church dates back to the 12th century. The parish acted as the local government until the Swedish Municipal Reform of 1862. This was when its responsibilities were split between the new civic government of Gärdslösa Municipality and the church congregation. The municipality was active up until 1969 when it was incorporated into the town of Borgholm, which became Borgholm Municipality in 1971. The church congregation is since 2006 a part of the Gärdslösa, Långlöt, and Runsten Congregation.
Things to Do and See
This is a rural part of Öland, but there are several inhabited areas in the vicinity. The medieval church is the main attraction here, but the coast of the Baltic Sea is never far away.
Gärdslösa Church
The parish church was inaugurated in the 12th century and was for centuries the center of social and religious life in the parish. It is considered to be one of the best preserved medieval churches on the island of Öland and was in 1964 the venue for the wedding between Princess Margaretha and John Ambler. The church also houses, in addition to religious artifacts, a runestone. The church is today a part of the Gärdslösa, Långlöt, and Runsten Congregation within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden.
How to Get to Gärdslösa
- Flights: The nearest airport is Kalmar Öland Airport (KLR), which is 42 kilometers to the southwest.
- Car: Gärdslösa is on countryside roads to the southeast of Borgholm.
- Bus: Buses from Kalmar Länstrafik connects Gärdslösa with the surrounding area.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 447 kilometers (5 h)
- Gothenburg – 375 kilometers (4 h 30 min)
- Malmö – 312 kilometers (3 h 30 min)
- Linköping – 261 kilometers (3 h 30 min)
- Kiruna – 1677 kilometers (17 h 40 min)
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