Öxabäck: Churches, Trails and Local History

Öxabäck brings together Lake Öxasjön, church architecture, historic sites and a variety of opportunities to get active. The lake lies right next to the village and offers a sandy beach and grassy areas. The village’s history focuses both on buildings dating from the late 17th century and on the development of women’s football. When planning your trip, you can choose between time by the water, routes and specific cultural topics.

Water, Paths and Routes

There is a lit 1.6 km loop at Lake Öxasjön; the fitness and running trails there range from 1.6 to 13 km. This gives you a choice between a clearly defined loop and a wider range of trail lengths. Five fitness and running trails maintained by Öxabäcks VIK start at Hagavallen. Allow about 30 minutes to walk the nature trail near Brokvarn.

One of the Torestorpsturerna routes runs between Torestorp, Älekulla and Öxabäck through old agricultural landscapes, deep forests and scenic areas. On the Torestorpsturerna, you travel along small gravel and asphalt roads with almost no traffic. Brattåsen is another geographical landmark: the point in Öxabäck is the highest in Mark Municipality.

Church Architecture and Local History

Öxabäck Church was built in 1874–1875 on the site of an older church. Its unusual stepped tower is reminiscent of Danish churches. The site thus brings together 19th-century church architecture and the memory of an earlier predecessor.

The old croft, Långås, dates from the 19th century and illustrates how people lived in the past. The Öxabäck local heritage association holds annual activities there, including a Christmas celebration and a Slåttergille (haymaking festival). Glöggatrövet is an annual tradition in the forest around the Stockasjöarna lakes. It includes a quiz walk, stations serving warm glögg and other activities. If you want to plan your trip around an event, check the dates in advance.

Sockenstugan dates from the late 17th century. In Brokvarn, the Öxabäck local heritage association has a water-powered mill and a sawmill. The stone-block bridge Ridspången near Brokvarn also tells the story of a historic route: it dates back to a medieval bridle path between Denmark and Stockholm.

Women’s Football in Öxabäck

Founded in Öxabäck in 1966, the women’s football team was one of the first of its kind in Sweden. On the ground floor of Antikhuset, a museum dedicated to the team features an extensive exhibition about the local team from 1966 to 1999. Numerous newspaper clippings and photographs show different aspects of its history. Together, the founding year, exhibition period and historical documents offer a detailed insight into the development of women’s football locally.

Discover more destinations: Horred, Hajom, Björketorp, Fritsla, Hyssna, Tostared, Istorp, Älekulla

For the main travel overview: Mark.