Stora Mellösa brings together church art, a burial ground dating far back in time and an agricultural landscape south of Hjälmaren. When planning your trip, the area offers several distinct points of interest: church memorials, archaeological finds, regional agriculture, and activities involving cycling and water. This lets you decide whether you would like to focus your stay on cultural history, the landscape or seasonal activities.
The Church and Its Memorials
Stora Mellösa Church is open when staff are on site. Please call to find out the opening hours for the current week. So if you would like to plan a visit to the church for a specific time, call ahead.
A distinctive feature of the church is the Göksholm burial chapel, added in the mid-17th century. The chapel contains funeral coats of arms and memorial plaques associated with the Göksholm families. The runic inscription Nä 12 at the church says that Inga had the stone erected in memory of Ásl/Ǫsl, her stepson. Another inscription, Nä 13, names Spjallboði. Together, these records show different forms of remembrance: an explicitly recorded act of commemoration and a name passed down to us.
Burial Ground and Traces of the Past
The Hjälmarsnäs burial ground contains 55 graves dating from approximately 1,000 to 1,600 years ago. The investigation of a damaged burial mound in 1918 offers a concrete glimpse into an individual archaeological context. Finds included burnt human bones, sherds from at least two pottery vessels, a comb, jewellery and numerous hazelnuts.
Göksholm Castle is another distinct historical point of interest. The castle lies directly north of Stora Mellösa on a peninsula in Hjälmaren. Remains of a 13th-century fortification can be found there. The castle is privately owned and not open to the public, so do not plan a visit as though the site were a public attraction.
The Agricultural Landscape and Hjälmaren
The area around Stora Mellösa in Östernärke lies just south of Hjälmaren and is a typical agricultural landscape. The lake’s proximity played an important role for residents: fishing was an important source of supplementary income for many farmers. Carrot cultivation also shaped the agricultural tradition. For a time, Stora Mellösa was one of Sweden’s largest carrot-growing areas.
The landscape’s history also includes the major lowering of Hjälmaren in the late 19th century. This made large areas available for cultivation that had previously been underwater or marshland. This change is a distinct historical context and should not be confused with the older records at the church and burial ground.
Cycling and Water in Katrinelund
The Katrinelundsturen is a 28-kilometre cycling route from Örebro to Katrinelund. It follows scenic roads past pastures and impressive farms. If cycling is a priority, this is a standalone tour option.
Katrinelund also has a bathing area managed by Örebro Municipality. It is suitable as a starting and finishing point for paddling trips, and kayaks are available for rent nearby. Conditions at the bathing area may vary by season. If you are planning to rent a kayak for a specific date, check availability in advance.
Seasonal Produce and Farm Shops
Råsta Bär Jordgubbsodling offers strawberries for self-picking for about a month from Midsummer. This is a clearly seasonal offering: check the current opening days and conditions before planning your trip around it. Bittinge Gårdsbutik specialises in smoked meat and smoked fish; its selection depends on the season and availability.
Jonssons Gårdsbutik is just outside Stora Mellösa in Åkerby and sells potatoes it grows itself. Here, too, the selection may vary. The three farm shops have quite different offerings: Råsta focuses on seasonal self-picking, Bittinge specialises in smoked products, and Jonssons offers home-grown potatoes. If you would like to include local produce in your plans, these distinctions can help you match the season with the products you want.
Discover more destinations: Gunnarsökna, Odensbacken, Vintrosa, Garphyttan, Kilsmo, Ervalla, Hampetorp, Blacksta
For the broader travel overview: Örebro.
