Ödeshög combines medieval traces in the town centre with archaeological sites, hiking trails and water activities in the surrounding area. The attractions offer a variety of experiences, from Romanesque church architecture and runestones to trips on Omberg and Lake Vättern.
Church history and archaeological sites
At the heart of the town is Ödeshög Church, which dates back to the 12th century. It is one of three surviving Romanesque churches with an east tower in Östergötland. Its east tower is considered an unusually well-preserved medieval structure. A runestone is built into the north wall. The wrought-iron churchyard gates bear the inscription ODESHOG and the year 1792; they are stamped by Boxholms bruk and are considered unusual and of great cultural and historical value.
Nearby, the Rök Runestone takes you further back in history: it was raised in the 9th century by Varin in memory of his deceased son. There is a permanent exhibition beside the stone. Remains of a settlement were discovered at the Alvastra pile dwelling in the Dags mosse bog, along with finds dating back to the Stone Age, around 5,000 years ago. Ödeshög’s local heritage centre adds to the historical picture: it was established in 1935 on the town’s former festival grounds.
Hiking trails, nature and cycling routes
Ödeshög has numerous hiking trails, from short walks to full-day routes. They lead through forests, over slopes and along the clear waters of Lake Vättern. Nearby, Ekopark Omberg offers two different hiking options: a 0.7-kilometre beech forest trail that is suitable for people with visual impairments and accessible by wheelchair, pushchair or walker, and a 27-kilometre circular trail around the mountain, which is part of Östgötaleden.
The Kråkeryd Nature Reserve near Ödeshög is home to a different kind of natural environment. Its calcareous dry grasslands support a remarkably diverse flora for a site with acidic bedrock. Plants found here include spiked speedwell, bloody cranesbill, wild madder, sandwort and field wormwood.
There are also several cycling routes to choose from. In Ekopark Omberg, Cykelled Norr starts and ends at Ommaborgen, while Cykelled Söder starts and ends at Stocklycke. The Ödeshög cycling map provides information about local routes, places to go for repairs and worthwhile stops along the roads.
Water activities and guided tours
You can explore Omberg from Lake Vättern by kayak or canoe. Along the way, you can reach caves and small coves that are inaccessible from land. At Lake Visjön near Ödeshög, two motor-free rowing boats can be hired for half-day or full-day fishing trips. You can fish for perch, pike and roach in the lake; a fishing licence is required.
Wettersaga offers full-day trips as well as shorter guided tours on Omberg, near Alvastra and the Rök Runestone, and by Lake Vättern. Both options can be booked year-round. This means there are shorter guided outings as well as experiences that last a full day.
The Klockargårdsängen activity area includes a playground, barbecue area, boules court, disc golf course and skate park. The disc golf course has nine holes and winds through the area’s parkland.
Local discoveries and getting around
Narr Chocolate is a family business that has specialised in coating nuts, fruit and berries with chocolate and yoghurt since 1993. The shop offers more than 300 varieties of high-quality confectionery to scoop and weigh yourself, as well as a view into the production area.
Ödeshög is directly connected to the E4 motorway; exit 106 takes you to the central parts of town within minutes. The library has maps and brochures about places to visit in the municipality and the rest of Östergötland. Local tourist information is also available in the entrance area of Rasta/Preem on the E4.
Discover more destinations: Gräsberg, Ramkvilla.
Return to the main travel overview: Jönköping.
