Högsrum is a small settlement in the western part of the island of Öland, the second largest island in Sweden. The area is today a part of Borgholm Municipality in Kalmar County, but the settlement with its church was once the center of the local parish. The settlement includes one-family homes as well as a few farms, all located a bit inland from the coast.
A Short History of Högsrum
Högsrum Parish had its origins in the Middle Ages and its former medieval church is believed to have been built in the 12th century. The construction of the current church did, however, begin in 1821 when the old church had been deemed inadequate. The new church was inaugurated a year later in 1822. The church remained the center of social and religious life up until the Swedish Municipal Reform of 1862. This was when its responsibilities were split between the church congregation and the new civic government of Högsrum Municipality. The municipality was later in 1952 incorporated into Gärdslösa Municipality, which in turn became a part of Borgholm Municipality in 1971. The church congregation is since 2006 a part of the Räpplinge-Högsrum Municipality.
Things to Do and See
The church is most likely the first, and quite possibly the only, prominent building that you will see when visiting Högsrum. The small settlement has a rural feeling and it is the possibility to explore the surrounding nature that might be its main attraction.
Högsrum Church
The white stone church from 1822 watches out over the small settlement. It was once the center of the parish, but is today a part of the Räpplinge-Högsrum Congregation within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden.
Rönnerum-Abbantorp Nature Reserve
Just to the south is the large Rönnerum-Abbantorp Nature Reserve. It was established in 2002 and covers and area of 524 hectares of forest. The forest is also known as Mittlandskogen, “the forest in the center of the land”. It is not only a natural area, but also a cultural one. The area includes an ancient village and not far away is also the hillfort Ismanstorps Fornborg.
How to Get to Högsrum
- Flights:The nearest airport is Kalmar Öland Airport (KLR), which is 31 kilometers to the southwest.
- Car: Högsrum lies on countryside roads east of Rälla, between Borgholm and Färjestaden.
- Bus: Buses from Kalmar Länstrafik connect Högsrum with the surrounding area with a stop in nearby Rälla.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 432 kilometers (4 h 50 min)
- Gothenburg – 363 kilometers (4 h 20 min)
- Malmö – 300 kilometers (3 h 30 min)
- Linköping – 260 kilometers (3 h 20 min)
- Kiruna – 1666 kilometers (17 h 40 min)
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