Borrby is Sweden’s first book town; at the same time, Borrby Backar borders the northern edge of the village. There, ridges, small bodies of water, pastures and groups of deciduous trees form a mosaic landscape rich in wildlife. Literary culture and walks in a natural setting offer different focal points for a stay. When choosing your destination, you can consider whether to allow more time for Bokhuset and local history, or include trails and the nearby coast.
Nature and trails in Borrby
Borrby Backar is used for walks and other outdoor activities. Sisselastigen was laid out in 1989, running east to west from Scoutstugan to Skolan. In Borrby Backar, the former railway embankment also serves as a nature trail. A path has been laid out around Odensjön, offering good views of wetlands and the cultural landscape. The trails offer different experiences: one follows an east–west route between two endpoints, while others focus on views of the landscape or the former use of the embankment as a railway line. This lets you choose a walk based on its route, views or historical connections.
Book Town and Bokhuset
Borrby Bokby shapes the village’s literary character. Ten booksellers are brought together in the shared Bokhuset. The house offers books across all genres as well as works by many local authors, combining a wide selection with a regional literary perspective. The children’s corner, Läslyckan, is also part of Bokhuset; children can read, draw and play there.
Bokhuset is listed as open year-round from Thursday to Sunday, 1 pm to 5 pm. Check before your visit whether access is available at these times. This is especially helpful if you are planning your stay around a visit to the Book Town.
Churches, art and local history
Borrby S:ta Maria kyrka was built in 1841 on the site of an older church dating from 1123. The distinctive windows of Borrby kyrka, from 1910 and 1912, are considered an important artistic treasure. The leaded-glass windows in Sisselas kapell also tell the story of local church art: they were created at the same time as the windows of Borrby kyrka. A textile patchwork appliqué by Borrby artist Cilla Sjöberg hangs above the altar.
Another link to local traditions and history is Sankta Sisselas källa, a legendary sacrificial site in Borrby. Galerie Blå Kossan is located at Köpmangatan 22. The shop and ceramics workshop Lerbruket Borrby are at Köpmangatan 16. Galleri Ray is at Timmergatan 3. These addresses provide specific places to visit for local galleries and ceramics.
Cinema and culinary courses
Borrby Biograf is located in one of Sweden’s oldest surviving buildings used exclusively as a cinema. Its former programme included feature films, documentaries, art films and concerts; the cinema offers film screenings. Check the current programme and ticket information before planning a specific visit.
Pastahantverket uses local ingredients from Ă–sterlen in its courses. The offering shows how you can make several kinds of pasta in just a few hours, even with little prior experience.
Beach and regional connections
Kyls strandbad / Borrby strand, with its fine-grained white sand, is close to Borrby. This offers a nearby coastal landscape as an option alongside the trails and cultural attractions in the village.
Borrby has frequent bus connections to Simrishamn and Ystad. Simrishamn is 17 kilometres northeast of Borrby, and Ystad is 20 kilometres west. These two directions help you get your bearings in the region; for a specific journey, check the current timetable, as routes and services may change.
Discover more destinations: Skillinge, Gladsax, Hammenhög, Kivik, Simrishamn V, Vik, Simrishamn, Vitaby
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