Norra Möckleby is a settlement in Mörbylånga Municipality in the central part of the island of Öland, the second largest island in Sweden. It is home to around 190 all-year inhabitants as well as the former parish church. The settlement lies in a narrow line following the main road through the area.
The settlement should not be confused with Södra Möckleby, which is in the southwestern part of the island. Yes, there is a northern and southern Möckleby. Norra Möckleby has had different names over the centuries to distinguish it from the name-sharing relative. In the 15th century its name was Östra Möckleby, “the eastern Möckleby”, while it was also been known as Långanäs in the 13th century.
A Short History of Norra Möckleby
Norra Möckleby Parish had its origins in the Middle Ages and it is believed that its first church was built in the 11th century. The first wooden church was in the 12th century replaced by a stone church. The medieval stone church served the parish for several centuries before it also was replaced in the 19th century by the current church.
The parish and its church were in many ways the local government 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 Norra Möckleby Municipality. The municipality became a part of Torslunda Municipality in 1952, which in turn became a part of Mörbylånga Municipality in 1974. The church congregation is since 2002 a part of the Norra Möckleby, Sandby, and Gårdby Congregation.
Things to Do and See
Norra Möckleby lies along the main road through the area and a few smaller businesses can be found here. It is the church that is the most prominent building in an area that is mostly farmland. The coast of the Baltic Sea is, however, never far away on this narrow island.
Norra Möckleby Church
The church dates to 1832 when it replaced the former medieval stone church that had served the parish. The only part saved from the old church was its defensive tower, which became the clock tower of the new church. The church is today a part of the Norra Möckleby, Sandby, and Gårdby Congregation within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden.
How to Get to Norra Möckleby
- Flights: The nearest airport is Kalmar Öland Airport (KLR), which is 29 kilometers to the west.
- Car: The settlement lies along countryside roads east of Färjestaden.
- Bus: Buses from Kalmar Länstrafik connect the settlement with the surrounding area.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 434 kilometers (4 h 50 min)
- Gothenburg – 362 kilometers (4 h 20 min)
- Malmö – 299 kilometers (3 h 30 min)
- Linköping – 258 kilometers (3 h 20 min)
- Kiruna – 1664 kilometers (17 h 40 min)
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