Östervåla: Churches, Crafts and Art

Östervåla offers several different points of interest for a stay: the church and a preserved inn represent architectural heritage, while Mårtsbogården and the Furniture Museum focus on local history and local chair-making. There is also art, padel, Östervåla Rajden and a chili tasting at Alien Chili. If you’re looking for a hotel for your stay, you can choose your focus based on whether you’re more interested in architectural history, crafts, art or physical activity.

Church, Inn and Local History

Östervåla Church was built as a hall church in the second half of the 13th century or in the 14th century. It has a rectangular nave, a choir with a straight east end, a sacristy to the north and a tower to the west. These elements give the church a clearly recognizable architectural profile. This means the building can be understood not only in terms of its age, but also its layout.

Östervåla Inn is one of the few preserved inns in the county. Together with the church, the inn offers another perspective on architectural heritage: two different types of buildings take center stage, a religious building and an inn. For a stay focused on cultural history, these connections are a useful complement to the themes of art and local crafts.

Mårtsbogården is a local heritage site with buildings dating from the 15th century and later, and includes several exhibitions. It draws attention to buildings from different periods and exhibition content, rather than focusing on just one building. The Furniture Museum has a more specific focus: there you can learn more about local chair-making. The two themes complement each other: one connects local history with buildings and exhibitions, while the other focuses on a particular local craft.

Art and Local Themes

Studio Kapellet is a community art space in a former Baptist chapel dating from 1890 in Staffansbo, Östervåla. The building’s former use as a chapel is part of its history; at the same time, the studio’s sculpture garden features permanent artworks. This brings together a historic building type and an artistic function. Those interested in art will find a different way to explore local history here than at the church, inn or local heritage site.

Alien Chili offers on-site chili tastings for groups of five to twelve people. Contact them in advance if you’d like to plan a tasting. The stated group size makes this a specific option for people traveling together; when planning, bear in mind that contacting them in advance is part of the process.

Activities and Getting There

Lunda Padel in Östervåla offers padel on two indoor doubles courts in a new hall. Östervåla Rajden is a 20-kilometre recreational race on a natural-surface course that can be completed in one or two laps. The route includes a mix of forest roads, exercise trails and paths. To choose between the options, you can compare the features described: the hall and doubles courts for padel, and the distance, number of laps and types of paths mentioned for Rajden.

UL bus route 844 connects Harbo and Östervåla. Check the route timetable before you travel to make sure your travel plans fit your connection. This lets you plan how to get there separately from your interests at the destination, then decide which themes you’d like to focus on during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Heby, Tärnsjö.

Return to the main travel overview: Heby.