Södra Vi: Church History and Cycling Routes

Södra Vi combines a rich local and church history with cycling routes whose different characteristics can help you plan your trip. For your stay, you can weigh up cultural history and cycling as priorities—or combine the two.

The Church and the History of the Village

The old church village of Södra Vi lay immediately north of the church, along the former road between Linköping and Kalmar. The present nave of Södra Vi kyrka was completed in 1755; that same year, the church was consecrated by Bishop Ryhzelius.

The church also contains two medieval wooden sculptures that were transferred from the old church. They depict S:t Olov and S:t Maria. The figures provide a tangible artistic connection to the church’s history: the furnishings include not only the building completed in 1755, but also older works of art brought over from its predecessor.

The Södra Vi Hälsobrunn is also part of the village’s historical development. Provost Arendt Grape founded it in 1759; it operated until 1946. Local history thus extends beyond the church and church village to include the former spa tradition. Tools around 4,000 years old have also been found in the area around Krön near Södra Vi. Krönsborg, in the surroundings of Södra Vi, contains remains believed to be medieval. These archaeological traces offer a view of a much earlier period than the dated histories of the buildings and spa.

Wooden Sculptures and Museum History

The Agne Lindblad Museum displays around 150 wood-carved sculptures of people in different everyday situations. Most are groups depicting small or large scenes from everyday life in the early 20th century. The museum building was originally the gymnasium of a spa complex. In 2015, it was completely renovated and converted into a museum.

The museum building is wheelchair-accessible and has an accessible toilet. Check the arrangements for visiting before you arrive. This makes it possible to factor a visit into your travel plans without conflating the museum’s content with the practical conditions of a visit.

Cycling Routes and Their Different Characteristics

The “Krön runt” cycling loop starts and ends in Södra Vi. It is just over 20 kilometres long and has 160 metres of elevation gain. After a few kilometres, the route reaches Torp Krönsborg. Its length and elevation gain provide two concrete points of reference for planning the ride. Check current route conditions before cycling.

The Södra Vi–Skillingarum–Skäfshult route has different features: it consists of roughly equal parts gravel paths, forest tracks and paved roads. At the Högerumsån crossing, it can be difficult to pass at times in early spring when water levels are high. The surfaces describe the character of the route, while the possibility of high water presents a specific seasonal restriction at this crossing.

Two other named routes can also be distinguished by their course. The Södra Vi–Mjösjöhult–Bäckhult route heads west from Södra Vi and passes around Bäckhult and Mjösjöhult. The Södra Vi–Marstad–Dabbetorp route begins on a forest track and ends on a particularly beautiful path towards Lilla Vi. Each route offers different points of reference: the direction and named places on one, and the change from forest track to path on the other.

Different questions can help you choose: if you want to assess a cycling route by its length and elevation gain, those figures are available for “Krön runt.” Södra Vi–Skillingarum–Skäfshult, by contrast, is defined by its surfaces and the conditional spring crossing. The other routes can be recognised by their named places and sections. Check current route conditions when planning, especially if you intend to cross the Högerumsån in early spring.

Planning Your Journey

Friday is listed as the day of service for the local transport connection from Djursdala to Södra Vi. Check the current operating details before making plans. This will help you coordinate your journey with your planned visits and cycling routes without assuming a particular current timetable.

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