Gladsax brings together traces of different periods of history: a Romanesque church, the remains of the former royal estate Gladsaxe Hus and Bronze Age rock carvings at Vilhelmsberg. At the same time, the landscape around the village is open, hilly and largely used for agriculture. You can therefore shape your stay around an interest in church architecture and the Middle Ages, or in protected landscapes and nature.

Church Village and Local History

Today, Gladsax is a church village, with buildings concentrated on both sides of the village street. Together with the open, hilly and predominantly agricultural landscape, this creates two distinct aspects of the village’s character: its concentrated settlement and its surroundings. In the Middle Ages, Gladsax was a frälsegut, an estate granted to Queen Margaret during the time of the Kalmar Union. The estate was converted into the royal estate Gladsaxe Hus and served as the residence of the feudal lord of Gladsax län. Today, only a ruin east of Gladsax Church remains of the former royal estate.

A Closer Look at Gladsax Church

Gladsax Church dates from the 12th century and was built in the Romanesque style with an apse. Before the 15th century, the nave was extended westward. The apse and nave refer to different architectural parts: the apse is part of the description of the Romanesque building, while the western extension concerns the nave. The church’s imagery also gives it a distinctive character. The wall paintings, created by the so-called Vittskövle Group, depict 17 scenes of the Creation and the Fall. If you would like to familiarise yourself with the church interior in advance, a 360-degree interior view is available online.

Castle Ruin and Rock Carvings

The Gladsaxehus ruin site measures about 70 × 50 metres; the central rectangular ruin measures 10.3 × 8.2 metres. The larger measurement refers to the entire site, while the smaller one refers to the central ruin. The history of Gladsax also includes the remains of Lady Ide’s 14th-century castle. You can read more about Lady Ide and the history of Gladsaxehus in an app from Österlen Museum. As app content can change, check in advance whether the information you are looking for is still included.

Nearby, at Vilhelmsberg between Gladsax and Järrestad, is a Bronze Age rock-carving site. The carvings include the large male figure “Dancer” and more than 200 soles, usually interpreted as the footprints of the gods. The combination of a named figure and a widely held interpretation offers two different ways of approaching the site: a specific motif and a symbolic reading.

Landscape and Practical Information

Gladsax hallar and Bäckhalladalen are part of a Natura 2000 site and are largely protected nature reserves. Bäckhalladalen formerly served as a shared outdoor grazing area for the surrounding villages. This former use for grazing offers a different perspective on the landscape from its current protected status.

Nearby Bäckhalladalen has walking loops, including a lit loop. There is also a large car park, toilets and barbecue areas. As information about the facilities can change, check before your visit.

Buses run through Gladsax towards Simrishamn and Gärsnäs. Check the timetable for your planned travel date if you intend to use the service. During Pilgrimage Week 2025, an approximately seven-kilometre pilgrimage walk ran from Gladsax Church to Östra Vemmerlövs Church. If you would like to include a current pilgrimage event in your plans, check the event dates.

Discover more destinations: Sankt Olof, Brantevik, Hammenhög, Tommarp, Skillinge, Vik, Simrishamn, Simrishamn V

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