Hulterstad is a small settlement with around 50 inhabitants in the southeastern part of the island of Öland, the second largest island in Sweden. It is today a part of Mörbylånga Municipality in Kalmar County, but was once together with its medieval church the center of its own parish.
A Short History of Hulterstad
Hulterstad Parish had its origins in the Middle Ages and its church is believed to have parts from the 12th century. The medieval church was altered many times during the centuries and a large reconstruction of the church took place during the 18th century, with the new church being inaugurated in 1803. The parish and its church acted as the local government in the parish until the Swedish Municipal Reform of 1862. This was when the parish’s responsibilities were split between the church congregation and the new civic government of Hulterstad Municipality. The new municipality existed up until 1952 when it became a part of Mörbylånga Municipality. The church congregation is since 2002 a part of the Hulterstad-Stenåsa Congregation.
Things to Do and See
Hulterstad is a small narrow village along the main road through the area. The church, which is the most prominent building around here, is at the northern outskirt of the village. The rest of the village mostly consists of one-family homes and a few farm buildings. The Baltic Sea is just a short distance to the east while inland you will find what is known as Alvar. This is a limestone plain with very a thin layer of soil, resulting in limited and sparse vegetation.
Hulterstad Church
The local church was in many parts built at the end of the 18th century. However, it still has some parts of the much older medieval church. It was inaugurated in 1803 and is today a part of the Hulterstad-Stenåsa Congregation within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden.
How to Get to Hulterstad
- Flights: The nearest airport is Kalmar Öland Airport (KLR), which is 48 kilometers to the northwest.
- Car: Hulterstad is on countryside roads east of Mörbylånga.
- Bus: Buses from Kalmar Länstrafik connect Hulterstad with the surrounding area.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 453 kilometers (5 h 10 min)
- Gothenburg – 380 kilometers (4 h 30 min)
- Malmö – 317 kilometers (3 h 50 min)
- Linköping – 277 kilometers (3 h 30 min)
- Kiruna – 1683 kilometers (18 h)
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