Pelarne is a small rural settlement in Vimmerby Municipality in Kalmar County. This was once, together with its church, the seat of the local parish. Today it is instead a sleepy part of the countryside of Småland that comes to life with the occasional tourist stopping by during the summer months. The wooden medieval church here is one of the oldest wooden churches in Sweden, it might even be the oldest still in use.
A Short History of Pelarne
Pelarne Parish had its origins in the Middle Ages and its medieval church dates back to the 13th century. The parish acted as the local government until the Swedish Municipal Reform of 1862. This was when its responsibilities were split between the church congregation and the new civic government of Pelarne Municipality. The municipality was in 1952 incorporated into Sevede Municipality, which in turn became a part of Vimmerby Municipality in 1971.
Things to Do and See
There is, of course, the church to explore. But once you are done, where to go next? On a nearby hill you will find the local gathering spot where people meet to celebrate midsummer. There are also several small countryside roads to explore either on bike or while heading our for a hike. Forests and fields are aplenty in this part of Sweden and there is also the nearby lake of Mossjön.
Pelarne Church
The former parish church is believed to have been built in the early years of the 13th century. This would make it one of Sweden’s oldest wooden churches still standing and it might even be the oldest that is still in use. The nearby clock tower was built in the 17th century and towers over both the church and the nearby fields. The church is today a part of the Pelarne Congregation within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden.
How to Get to Pelarne
- Flights: The nearest airport is Linköping City Airport (LPI) which is 108 kilometers to the north.
- Car: Pelarne is along Road 40 to the west of Vimmerby.
- Bus: Buses from Kalmar Länstrafik connect Pelarne with the surrounding area.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 307 kilometers (3 h 20 min)
- Gothenburg – 253 kilometers (3 h)
- Malmö – 319 kilometers (3 h 50 min)
- Linköping – 104 kilometers (1 h 25 min)
- Kiruna – 1537 kilometers (16 h 50 min)
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