Sankt Olof brings together a church with medieval roots, two pilgrim routes and traces of different periods in the village’s history. The surrounding landscape of mixed woodland, small fields, pastureland and paddocks, along with leisure activities, adds to the appeal. During your stay, you can choose between cultural history, connections to pilgrimage and seasonal activities.
Church, spring and pilgrim routes
Sankt Olof Church dates from the 13th century and was largely built in the 15th century. In the Middle Ages, it was the patronal church of Bollerup. The Gothic church features numerous splendid altarpieces and panel paintings with spiral designs. The Sankt Olof spring lies right beside the church and has been visited and venerated for centuries. Together, the church and spring bring architectural history and religious tradition into one place.
The Sankt Olof Trail runs from Lund to Simrishamn, passing the church and spring in Sankt Olof. The St. Magnhild Trail runs from Klippan to Sankt Olof and is about 9.65 Swedish miles long. The routes can be distinguished by their endpoints; the church and spring are part of the route of the Sankt Olof Trail.
Traces of different eras
A stone circle is one of the prehistoric remains in Sankt Olof. The village school was built in 1810 as a combined school and poorhouse, used as a retirement home from 1910 to 1965, and then converted into a school museum. This sequence shows how the building’s use changed over several periods.
Sankt Olof’s railway station is also an important part of the village’s historical development in the 20th century. Related buildings include the goods shed, the locomotive shed, and the former dairy and distillery buildings. These traces complement the older history of the church and school with the story of the village’s development in the 20th century.
Railway, landscape and leisure
The Sankt Olof–Brösarp line has been used for heritage train services since 1971 and operates during the summer season. If you are planning a trip, check the current timetable in advance. You can also ride a rail bike in Sankt Olof.
The area around Sankt Olof is characterized by mixed woodland, small fields, pastureland and paddocks. This combination of woodland and agricultural land provides a contrast to the village’s church and railway history.
You can play tennis at the tennis court on Kapellgatan; bookings are made online. Sankt Olofsbadet is an outdoor swimming pool with a 25-metre outdoor pool, a diving board, a three-metre diving tower, a children’s pool, a kiosk and a sauna. A swimming school is also offered there in summer. Check the pool’s specific opening days and hours directly with the operator.
Bus connections and your stay
Bus services connect Sankt Olof with Brösarp and Simrishamn. If you are considering staying in Sankt Olof, these connections may be a factor in your plans. Check current departure times before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Kivik, Simrishamn V, Brantevik, Gladsax, Borrby, Hammenhög, Gärsnäs, Vik.
For the broader travel overview: Simrishamn.
