Borrby: Book Town, Nature Trails and Culture

At Borrby’s northern edge, Borrby Backar meets the town directly; Borrby Bokby is Sweden’s first book town. Church art, film screenings and courses featuring ingredients from Österlen add to the themes of a stay.

Nature Trails and Landscape

Borrby Backar is a mosaic landscape of ridges, small bodies of water, pastures and groups of deciduous trees. The wildlife is diverse; the area is also used for walks and other outdoor activities. Since Backar borders Borrby directly on its northern edge, the landscape stands alongside the town’s cultural themes as a distinct focus.

The Sisselastigen trail was laid out in 1989, running east to west from Scoutstugan to Skolan. The former railway embankment in Borrby Backar is also used as a nature trail. A path with good views of wetlands and cultural landscapes was laid out near Odensjön. For planning your walk, you can focus on different features: the named endpoints of Sisselastigen, the former railway embankment or the landscape views near Odensjön.

Book Town and Local Stories

Borrby Bokby is Sweden’s first book town. Ten booksellers are part of the shared Bokhuset, where you can find books in every genre and works by many local authors. Books from a range of genres sit alongside works by local writers. Bokhuset also includes the children’s corner Läslyckan, where children can read, draw and play.

Another side of the local storytelling tradition is Sankta Sisselas källa: this legendary sacrificial site is located in Borrby. The literary identity of the book town and a local legend thus stand side by side as distinct cultural themes.

Church Art, Cinema and Crafts

Borrby S:ta Maria kyrka was built in 1841 on the site of an older church dating from 1123. The church’s history at this site therefore goes back to 1123. Sisselas kapell has leaded-glass windows made at the same time as the windows in Borrby kyrka. Above the altar hangs a textile patchwork appliqué by Borrby artist Cilla Sjöberg.

Borrby Biograf is located in one of Sweden’s oldest surviving buildings built exclusively for cinema use, and screens films. Its former programme included feature films, documentaries, art films and concerts. If a film night is part of your stay, check the current screenings.

Galerie Blå Kossan is located at Köpmangatan 22. Lerbruket Borrby is a ceramics workshop and shop at Köpmangatan 16. In Borrby, you can therefore find both a gallery and a place for ceramic crafts and sales. Pastahantverket adds courses featuring local ingredients from Österlen to the cultural offerings. Check dates and availability before booking.

Practical Information

Borrby has frequent bus connections to Simrishamn and Ystad. Simrishamn is 17 kilometres to the northeast, and Ystad is 20 kilometres to the west. Check the current timetable before travelling, as routes and services may change.

Near Borrby is Kyls strandbad / Borrby strand, with fine-grained white sand. The beach offers a coastal connection in the surrounding area, while Borrby Backar shapes the mosaic landscape directly on the town’s northern edge.

Discover more destinations: Sankt Olof, Vik, Tommarp, Gärsnäs, Skillinge, Hammenhög, Gladsax, Simrishamn V

For the broader travel overview: Simrishamn.