Ringarum combines a church with several layers of history with different opportunities for outdoor activities. From Ringarums IP, you can access a 2.5 km illuminated fitness trail; Trollbanan is a forest-inspired obstacle course for children. Tjen adds a swimming spot just outside the village. When planning, you can first consider whether culture, exercise or time by the water should be the main focus. This also helps when searching for a holiday rental: decide which themes will shape your days rather than treating all the options equally.
Church History Across Several Periods
Today's Ringarums kyrka was built in 1774. A medieval church previously stood on the same site, probably dating from the second half of the 13th century. This makes it possible to distinguish two building phases: the present church and its considerably older predecessor on the same site. The furnishings include an altarpiece provided by the painter Pehr Hörberg in 1806. For culture enthusiasts, the historical span lies in this sequence: a probably medieval predecessor, today's 18th-century church and an altarpiece from the early 19th century. The date of the predecessor remains tentative; 1774 and 1806 are the specific years for the present building and the painting. This means the church's history offers more than a single construction date as a point of reference for planning a trip.
Exercise: The Fitness Trail and Trollbanan
The illuminated fitness trail at Ringarums IP is 2.5 km long. Its route and lighting make this activity different from Trollbanan, the obstacle course beside Ringvallen. There are around ten challenging stations there; the forest-inspired course is aimed at children aged about five and up. The age indication is an approximate guide, not a precise cutoff. It can be taken into account when choosing activities for trips with children. The activities also differ in practical terms: the fitness trail centres on a specified distance, while Trollbanan is an obstacle course with its own challenges and stations.
By the Water: Tjen near Ringarum
Lake Tjen lies just outside Ringarum. There is a swimming spot with a small sandy beach nearby, with toilets, basic changing rooms and jetties. For the 2026 bathing season, Tjen's bathing water quality was rated excellent. This rating applies to the 2026 season. If you are planning to swim in a later season, check the water quality rating and the current information about the swimming spot at that time. The beach, jetties and changing rooms provide practical details for a visit by the water; the quality rating, by contrast, is explicitly tied to a particular season. This is a useful distinction if your trip planning needs to take both the location and the timing of your swim into account.
A Seasonal Cultural Event
Walpurgis Night is traditionally celebrated on 30 April at several locations in Valdemarsvik Municipality. If you are planning a trip around this date, check the specific venues and programme, as they may change. This lets you include the seasonal event in your plans without assuming a particular schedule.
Discover more destinations: Gryt, SkeppsgĂĄrden, Ă–stra Ed, Valdemarsvik
Return to the main travel guide: Valdemarsvik.
