Kråksmåla: Church Village and Church Art

Kråksmåla church village is a rural parish centre in a forest landscape, at a road junction. The church and historic settlement pattern shape the character of the place. It is also designated as an area of high natural value. This gives your travel planning a clear focus on cultural heritage and landscape.

The church and medieval woodcarvings

The churchyard of Kråksmåla Church is home to one of Sweden’s best-preserved older wooden lychgates. A lychgate is a covered entrance to a churchyard, so its preservation is itself part of the area’s architectural heritage. Inside the church is the wooden “Birgittaskåpet” (the St. Bridget shrine), dating from the second half of the 15th century. The church also contains a unique medieval wooden group depicting Saint George, a dragon and a princess. The shrine and the group of figures offer different ways to explore medieval woodcarving: a single object with a precise date stands alongside a depiction featuring three named figures. The lychgate belongs to the churchyard, while the two wooden works are inside the church—making it easy to distinguish the different elements of the church’s heritage.

The historic layout of the church village

The oldest group of buildings in Kråksmåla church village is clustered around the church and along the roads. Several former trading and craft farms stand north of the church. A clearly visible former railway embankment remains in the lower-lying western part of the village. The railway was closed and the tracks were removed; the embankment remains as part of the inherited settlement pattern. The layout draws attention beyond the church area: the history of trade and crafts in the north and a former transport feature in the west add to the picture of the oldest group of buildings. The history of the village is thus made up of various architectural traces and is not limited to the church alone.

Cultural heritage and natural value

Kråksmåla parish centre is designated as a cultural heritage site of national interest under the name RIK H53. This is distinct from the natural-value designation: since 1997, the county administrative board has designated Kråksmåla as an area of high natural value, Class III, and it is listed as number 13 in Nybro Municipality. The two classifications relate to different aspects of the place. RIK H53 represents the cultural heritage of the parish centre, while Class III denotes its designated natural value. Together, they offer visitors both a historical and a landscape perspective without conflating the two.

Boasjön bathing area in the municipality

Boasjön, a bathing area with jetties, a raft and changing rooms, is in the northern part of Nybro Municipality. It is run by the Kråksmåla community association. During the bathing season, a jetty and a toilet are available there. The season is the key timing consideration when planning a visit for a swim; check the relevant information in advance. This seasonal offering can thus be distinguished from the permanent historic features of the church village.

Getting there and finding a hotel

Regional Route 125 runs through Kråksmåla; Kråksmåla Church is on Route 125. The first statement refers to the village, the second to the church. Check the road designation and route before setting off. When looking for a hotel for your trip to Kråksmåla, you can first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: the church and architectural heritage shape the village, while Boasjön, a bathing area in the northern part of the municipality, offers a seasonal option. Plan accordingly, depending on whether cultural heritage or a visit for a swim is part of your travel interests.

Discover more destinations: Örsjö, Målerås, Kristvallabrunn, Nybro, Gullaskruv, Alsterbro, Kulla, Orrefors

Return to the main travel guide: Nybro.