Nykyrka: Church, cultural heritage and nearby trails

When choosing a place to stay in Nykyrka, it is worth considering the local history, everyday life in the village and nearby destinations separately. Västra Ny Church and traces of the Stone Age provide a cultural focus, while trails and regional produce round out the picture.

Church and cultural heritage

Västra Ny Church and the surrounding cemetery are located in Nykyrka. The church was built in the second half of the 13th century and gave the village its name. Services are held at the church every other Sunday and on important Christian holidays. If you would like to plan your trip around a service, check the parish’s current calendar in advance.

There are also traces of earlier settlement beyond the church’s history: Västra Nykyrka and the surrounding area contain several stone cists dating from the Stone Age. Nearby Nubbekullen is another center for local cultural heritage. Nubbekullen is the Malmström family’s childhood home, and the Västra Ny heritage association opens it to the public. The museum contains several thousand household items and a smaller collection of paintings, including works by August Malmström. Everyday objects and paintings can thus be found side by side here.

Village life and regional produce

Nykyrka has an active village shop. There is a barbecue area next to the ice rink. Rosendal at Nykyrka 309 offers self-picking and sells berries grown outdoors. The business is seasonal, and availability depends on the relevant berry season. If berries are part of your travel plans, schedule your visit accordingly.

North of Nykyrka, in Kavlebäck, Drejat av Barbro sells household items made of clay or stoneware. This adds handcrafted products to the range of local points of interest. A visit there offers a different focus from the historical collections at Nubbekullen: here, the emphasis is on clay and stoneware household items, while Nubbekullen features its extensive collection of historical everyday objects and a smaller collection of paintings.

Trails and nature nearby

The nearby Håleberget Nature Reserve has a 2.1-kilometer hiking trail marked in orange. To reach it, take the road from Highway 50 between Motala and Nykyrka toward Kolmetorp, then follow the signs. Tokanäset has a separate access note: north of Nykyrka, the area can be reached from Highway 50 via a public road. There is no parking lot there, so it is recommended that you walk or cycle the final stretch.

For comparison, the nearby Östgötaleden Övralid runt circular trail is about 2.4 kilometers long, making it a shorter option; viewpoints along the way offer views of Lake Vättern. The nearby section of the Östgötaleden between Medevi and Övralid is 9 kilometers long and marked in orange. The two routes therefore differ both in length and in the features highlighted: the viewpoints stand out on the circular trail, while the route and its markings are notable on the section between Medevi and Övralid.

Nearby Övralid offers hourly summer tours of Verner von Heidenstam’s house. Check the current summer schedule before your trip. Next to Övralid, Café Farfarstugan serves waffles and hearty salads; as it operates seasonally, it is also a good idea to check its current opening status before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Bona, Tjällmo, Motala, Borensberg.

Return to the main travel overview: Motala.