Kimstad: Discover Church and Railway History
Accommodation in Kimstad
In Kimstad, church and railway history sit alongside activities that vary with the seasons. This offers two clear focal points when choosing your stay: the town’s history or a visit timed around a seasonal celebration or outdoor activity.
The church and its historic surroundings
Kimstad Church is considered one of Sweden’s most magnificent Baroque churches; its origins date back to the Middle Ages. The building therefore brings together different historical periods. The historic church setting of Kimstad kyrkomiljö, K24, includes the church and the older buildings beside it. If you are interested in church architecture, you can also explore the older built environment that forms part of this cultural setting.
The cemetery, the Piper family and a digital tour
The Piper family, the last owners of Löfstad Castle, is also part of the town’s history. The family is buried on the south side of Kimstad cemetery, and its ornate funeral coats of arms can be seen in the church. A digital tour of the history of the cemetery and church adds to these historical points of interest. Together, the family’s burial place and coats of arms connect a specific place in the cemetery with a memorial inside the church.
Railway history, then and now
A station house dating from the 1870s is part of Kimstad’s characteristic railway surroundings along the Östra stambanan. The railway is also relevant when planning your journey: the Östgötapendeln stops in Kimstad on the Norrköping–Motala and Mjölby–Tranås routes. If you plan to travel by train, check the timetable for your travel date.
A waterway connecting two lakes
Near Kimstad, the Motala ström connects Lakes Roxen and Glan. This feature of the landscape adds another topic to consider when choosing where to visit, alongside the church and railway history. If you do not want to plan your stay solely around historic sights, you can also take this connection between the lakes into account.
Early summer: Midsummer and Grebyrundan
Midsummer celebrations at Krokhagen in Kimstad have been a tradition since 1972. Another seasonal attraction is Grebyrundan, a family orienteering event held on five Monday evenings in early summer. It follows the lit cross-country ski trail of Kimstad GoIF and starts and finishes at Krokhagens Idrottsplats. If you plan your trip around the celebrations or the event, check the dates for the relevant year.
People with visual impairments can run Grebyrundan independently with the help of a digital navigation aid. It tracks the route using high-precision GPS and gives instructions through Bluetooth headphones. This makes the wayfinding method another practical aspect to consider when planning for the event.
Winter activities and exercise
When there is enough snow, around 15 kilometres of cross-country ski trails can be groomed at the Kimstad GoIF Ski Centre. Snow conditions are key, so check them if you are planning to use the trails during a specific visit. People with visual impairments can ski in winter and run or walk on Kimstad’s exercise trails without needing a personal companion.
A look inside the school museum
The school museum at KlockargĂĄrden farm includes historic objects such as stuffed swans, hand-operated dental drills and a homemade pipe organ. The collection ranges from a taxidermied animal to a medical device and a musical instrument, giving it an unusual character. If you would like to plan a visit to the museum, check visiting arrangements in advance.
Discover more destinations: Kolmården, Skärblacka, Åby, Norrköping, Svärtinge, Norsholm.
Return to the main travel guide: Norrköping.
