Villstad Church Village Nature and Cultural Heritage Reserve

Experience Villstad Church Village

Villstad Church Village is one of Småland’s best-preserved church villages. Here you are welcomed by an open rural landscape with giant oak trees, avenues, and historic buildings.

Burial grounds and traces from the Iron Age

Several traces of ancient history can be found around the church village. Behind the vicarage lies the Tempelbacken burial ground with more than 50 burial mounds surrounded by old oak trees. The area also includes the large burial mound Gröthögen and remains of ancient farming landscapes.

The church and life in the church village

The current church was built between 1788 and 1793. The churchyard contains beautiful grave art from several centuries. The village also features several historic buildings, including church stables from the 19th century, the vicarage, and the old village school. The church stables are reminders of the time before cars, when visitors traveled to services by horse and carriage.

Getting around Villstad Church Village

Villstad Church Village is easy to explore. The area has both marked walking trails and small roads, making it accessible on foot or by car. The marked trail through the area is just under 3 kilometers long. If you skip the detour to the burial ground in the northwest, the route is a little over 2 kilometers.

Did you know?

• Villstad was first mentioned in written records in 1268.
• In 1502, Sten Sture the Elder stayed here after a failed siege of Varberg.
• In 1564, the vicarage was burned down by Danish forces, and three years later the Danish army camped here on its way to Jönköping.
• In 1619, King Gustav II Adolf visited the Villstad vicarage accompanied by around 290 men and 300 horses.