A calcareous fen with rare orchids, an old, near-natural mixed forest and details in Stigtomta Church give Stigtomta several distinct areas to explore. There are also traces of aviation history, as well as orienteering and running traditions. Depending on your interests, you can make nature, church art or a sporting event the focus of your trip.
Marsh Landscape and Forest Trails
Bärstakärret Nature Reserve lies on the southeastern bay of Lake Yngaren. Its formation is linked to the lowering of the lake in the 1860s: calcareous spring water gave rise to a botanically distinctive calcareous fen. Several rare species can be found in the area, including the orchids Myggnycklar and Grönkulla. The focus here is on how the marsh landscape formed and the plant life it supports.
Trollskogen Nature Reserve, with its old, near-natural forest of coniferous and deciduous trees, is just outside Stigtomta. Well-worn trails crisscross the species-rich forest. Many of the pines are home to the wood-decay fungus Tallticka. The area also has traces of cultural history: a stone setting thought to date from the Early Iron Age and the remains of old charcoal-burning sites. Unlike the marsh botany of Bärstakärret, Trollskogen offers forest trails and historical remains as distinct points of interest.
Church Art and Local History
The altarpiece in Stigtomta Church dates from 1812. Pehr Hörberg painted the washing of the feet on it. The pulpit also has a story to tell: it originally belonged to the church of the Svea Artillery Regiment in Stockholm. The same church thus brings together a dated painting with a clearly identifiable subject and a furnishing connected to another church in Stockholm.
The museum at Klockarbol preserves old furnishings and archival material from the four parishes of Bärbo, Halla, Nykyrka and Stigtomta. At the rectory in Stigtomta, Tiondeboden is considered the oldest surviving building; it mainly displays agricultural equipment. Both places convey history through collections and buildings, while Stigtomta Church offers specific details of its furnishings in the form of the altarpiece and pulpit.
At Goglunda GĂĄrd, a sign marks the former optical flight path guide beam from Stigtomta. This sign adds a topic from aviation history to the stories of the churches and collections.
Orienteering and Events
Stigtomtaloppet has been held since 2012. Stigtomtakavlen offers a different sporting focus: it is an annual orienteering relay held in April, with classes for elite athletes, young people and recreational participants. If you would like to plan your trip around the relay, check the specific event date in advance. You can also join a training session with OK Hällen and try orienteering; arrange a date in advance.
Route 52 and the Regional Setting
The easiest way to reach Trollskogen Nature Reserve is via Route 52, which runs directly through Stigtomta. Along the route stretches an open Sörmland cultural landscape, with farm shops, studios, cafés, restaurants, swimming spots and accommodation. These offerings provide a regional context for planning your trip; they should not all be understood as places in the town itself. If you are looking for accommodation, you can make nature, culture or a sporting event the focus of your trip and check which options suit your stay.
For the broader travel overview: Södermanland.
