Discover Föra on Öland

Föra lies in the northern part of Öland, roughly where the island is at its narrowest. Both coasts are about 2.5 kilometres away. Its location offers a point of reference on the island; the character of the place is especially shaped by its medieval church, an old coastal road and its agricultural landscape.

Church and medieval traces

Föra’s medieval church developed from a wooden stave church built in the 11th century. Around 1160, it was replaced by a stone church. Its medieval limestone west tower is one of the best-preserved medieval towers on Öland. The tower’s second floor also contains a surviving privy, which may be the oldest of its kind in Sweden. These two details tell different stories about the building’s history: its striking stone tower and an unusual surviving feature inside.

The church stands near the crossroads where the roads along Öland’s east and west sides meet. An audio guide is available for the church; check whether it is currently available before your visit. The churchyard is enclosed on all sides by a dry-stone limestone wall. Beside the church stands the former primary school, dating from the 1880s. South of the church, at Korshorvan, stands Martinus Cross, a medieval stone cross about two metres high. Föra’s different traces of architectural and local history can thus be distinguished, from the church and its enclosure to the school and stone cross.

Pastures, lake and nature reserve

Gelträsket, a small lake surrounded by dry and wet pastures, lies in the northern part of Föra. At Föra’s southeastern edge, on the border with Alböke, lies the Djurstadsträsk Nature Reserve. It has interesting flora and a rich birdlife. The two landscapes complement one another: pastures shape the surroundings of the lake, while the nature reserve is notable for its plant and bird life.

Föra also lies within an open landscape of intensively farmed fields. This distinction helps separate nature features from the cultural landscape: the pastures at Gelträsket and the flora and birdlife of Djurstadsträsk are specific features of individual places; the open farmland describes the wider character of the area. If you are interested in Föra, this helps you distinguish between individual natural features and the broader rural landscape.

The old coastal road and its history

The coastal road from Äleklinta through Föra and north towards Byerum offers another perspective. It is a unique, historic road landscape bearing traces of different uses and eras. Prehistoric features include house foundations and graves. There are also harbour facilities, sites for boat sheds and remains of stone quarrying. The route’s landscape therefore brings together archaeological, maritime and economic traces, which do not necessarily belong to a single historical period.

This gives you a clear distinction between themes when choosing a destination: the church, its tower and Martinus Cross represent Föra as a place with medieval architectural and cultural traces. The coastal road also reveals the landscape’s long history of use. The lake, pastures, nature reserve and open farmland offer another way to experience the area. These themes can help you decide how to think about Föra as you plan your trip: in terms of architectural history, archaeological and maritime traces, or the character of the landscape.

Discover more destinations: Åstad, Ljungbyholm, Alby, Rockneby, Broakulla, Påryd, Halltorp, Trekanten.

For the broader travel overview: Kalmar.