Smedby is a small settlement on Öland, the second-largest island in Sweden. This was once the seat of its own parish, but is today a part of Mörbylånga Municipality in Kalmar County. It is a small settlement with the church at one corner of a group of a few one-family homes surrounded farmland.
A Short History of Smedby
The first known mentioning of Smedby dates back to the 15th century. Danish forces burned down the the settlement in 1567 during the Northern Seven Years’ War. Smedby was rebuilt and the settlement survived until modern days. A primary school was built here already in the 1860’s.
Smedby Parish had its origins in the Middle Ages. Its first church is believed to have been a stone church built in the 12th century. It was, however, demolished in 1851 and replaced by the current church. 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 Smedby Municipality. The municipality was in 1952 merged with its neighboring municipalities to form Oddentby Municipality. It was, however, short-lived and was incorporated into Mörbylånga Municipality in 1967. The church congregation is since 2002 a part of the Sydöland Congregation.
Things to Do and See
Surrounded by farmland there is one building that really stands out in this small settlement. That is the white stone church. There are a few other historical buildings here, like the old home for the priest that is today a cafe. Otherwise it is in the vicinity that you will find the impressive landscape of the inland or the picturesque coast of the Baltic Sea.
Smedby Church
The current white stone church was inaugurated in 1853. It replaced the 12th century medieval church that once stood here. The old church was demolished in 1851 to make room for the new once. It is part of the Sydöland Congregation within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden.
How to Get to Smedby
- Flights: The nearest airport is Kalmar Öland Airport (KLR), which is 48 kilometers to the northwest.
- Car: Smedby is on Road 136 south of Mörbylånga.
- Bus: Buses from Kalmar Länstrafik connect Smedby 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 40 min)
- Malmö – 318 kilometers (3 h 50 min)
- Linköping – 277 kilometers (3 h 40 min)
- Kiruna – 1683 kilometers (18 h)
Explore More of Öland and Sweden
I’m always interested in church history—anywhere! My eldest brother visited Sweden, possibly in the late 70s. He showed us phenomenal pics. It’s a place on my bucket list! 🙂