Eight things to do in Österlen
Known as the Provence of Sweden, Österlen is one of the most eye-catching parts of our country with plenty of romantic views and activities for all ages. The area is especially popular during summer, but has plenty to offer during most of the year. Take a look below for eight of my favourite things to do when visiting Österlen.
Visit Christinehof Castle
This 14th century estate is located in the very heart of Österlen, surrounded by tree-lined allies and cultivation fields. The castle is part of Christinehofs Ekopark, which is a larger area with plenty of hiking trails for those wanting to explore further. There is also a cafe right at the entrance of the castle for those who’d rather enjoy a cup of coffee. To find their website, click HERE.
The castle offers a rich selection of storytelling guided tours, exhibitions and lectures highlighting Christina Piper, the creator of the castle and her lifestyle.
Visiting the castle is a lovely daytime activity for all ages considering that you can explore the surrounding areas, enjoy guided tours and get a classic Swedish Fika as well. It is, however advised that you pick a day with good weather for this excursion.
Visit Hallamölla Waterfall
This little green oasis is quite the hidden gem in the forest of Hallamölla. It’s part of Christinehofs Ekopark and surrounded by beautiful hiking trails for those of you who are visiting on a day with good weather and want to enjoy the surroundings thoroughly.
In order to get the best view of the waterfall you will have to do a little bit of climbing. The rocks are slippery, so I’d suggest that you wear comfortable shoes that are also good for this type of activity, not ballerina shoes like I did.
The waterfall is quite easy to find. It is just 100 meters away from the parking lot and you will hear it from there as well. Follow the sound of pouring water and check Google Maps (usually very reliable) if you’re experiencing any trouble finding it. I’d suggest combining this excursion with Christinehof Castle as they are located very near each other.
Visit Ales Stenar
Ale’s Stones is a megalithic monument in the southeastern tip of Skåne. It is formed as a 67 metres long oval stone ship, which was created during the Nordic Iron Age. Today, this is one of the most famous sights and landmarks in Skåne and something you shouldn’t miss if you’re interested in this particular era of Nordic history.
I wouldn’t say that the Nordic Iron Age is my particular area of passion, but nonetheless I’ve heard a lot about this landmark. It’s also surrounded by beautiful nature and dramatic views. It’s right in the middle of a cow pen with plenty of cute but lazy cows lying around, so it’s a good activity for those of us who love to explore beautiful nature.
For those interested in shopping, there are a few tourist shops, restaurants and an ice cream place next to the main parking lot (the actual stones are about a 10-minute uphill walk from the area.)
I managed to visit this spot on a particularly rainy day, but I’d highly recommend picking a day with good weather for this activity as well. It’s pretty accessible from Ystad and Simrishamn, and doesn’t take that much time to explore, so it’s ideal to combine with one of those cities.
Visit Kiviks Musteri
This is Sweden’s first commercial fruit farm and it dates back to the 1800’s. Since then, plenty of fruits and berries have been produced, utilizing four generations of accumulated expertise. Kiviks Musteri welcomes about 200 000 guests annually, and you will find their website HERE.
At Kiviks Musteri, you will learn a lot about the history of the farm, the Kivik region and the family behind it. The farm is beautifully located right next to the ocean and the northern entrance of Stenshuvud National Park.
One of the highlights is the apple orchard. Here, you will see some of the apples and pears that Kiviks Musteri are producing, in their natural environment. Some of the trees are over hundred years old, but they’re purely there for decorational purposes.
The trees I’m standing next to in the picture above are there for actual cultivation of apples. The shape and size of these trees are more effective at producing apples than the larger, older trees, so one may say that the older trees are officially retired.
Another highlight, and I’ll be condemned a stereotypical tourist for saying so, is the gift shop. Here, you may take a piece of Österlen home. They have a wide selection of juices, marmalades and lemonade which you can purchase at a reasonable prices. I love sweet drinks and fruity juices, so I found a lot of goods in the shop.
Hike in Stenshuvud National Park
Here’s the activity that I found the most beautiful during my visit. If I were to choose just one activity off the list, it would be this one.
If you’re coming from Kiviks Musteri, you will drive south on the same road for just another minute, find a parking lot and a map of some of the hiking trails. From here, the main sight in the national park is about a 1 km walk.
The walk itself is beautiful and easy to navigate for all ages. The view at the top is absolutely remarkable, and you will feel as if you entered a different country. The rolling hills, the forest and the ocean views also makes for some dramatic photo opportunities.
Visit Kronovall Castle
Exploring this 18th century castle and it’s majestic gardens is a pleasant daytime activity for all ages. There are hiking trails in the area as well. The castle itself is currently operating as a hotel, restaurant and wine cafe. It’s also considered to be the only wine castle in Sweden. Click HERE to find their website.
This is a great spot for a relaxing afternoon when you’re in the area. The lush surroundings and delicious food will make you feel right at home. After your meal, you can go on a stroll to admire the beautiful storybook-like surroundings and explore their second hand interior design shop as well.
The castle itself and the gardens span over a large area, and you could walk around for hours without feeling that you’ve seen it all.
The surroundings truly look like its taken right out of Snow White. It’s actually rumoured that the castle itself is haunted. Visitors have reported mystical shadows and voices in the long hall of the main castle.
I’ve never stayed at the castle although I’ve heard great things about doing so. Instead, I went for their pizza lunch in the garden along with a lovely walk in the gardens afterwards. It was a sunny day, and I definitely feel like we could have spent even more of the afternoon here.
The pizza was actually the best pizza I had during that particular week (and I had three pizzas that week). They only had one kind of pizza available, which was their classic one, and it was both an easy and great choice for us. We combined it with a glass of rosé wine and it felt like we were in the beginning of summer rather than at the end of it.
The service was good but nothing extraordinary. It did take about 40 minutes for the waiters to bring the pizza’s out once we’d ordered . I was hungry but didn’t mind too much, as it was a nice place to sit and just enjoy a glass of rosé as well.
Visit Eriksgården
This is a berry farm that’s been run by 11 generations so far. It’s also a restaurant and popular attraction for visitors. It’s located just out of Sjöbo in central Skåne. They also have a lovely farm shop with plenty of delicacies as well as home decor. You’ll find the farm’s website HERE. They cultivate strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries.
The most popular activity here is berry picking, which is a fun and relaxing way to spend a day. How cozy would it be to picking your own strawberries and then using them in a strawberry pie? To me it sounds like great way to spend the day for all ages.
They also have a restaurant and café, which offers a berry buffet. Here, you may try out all the berries and combine them with ice cream, waffles and other yummy treats.
Enjoy the serenity
One of the main things you should do when visiting this area is to simply enjoy the nature and surroundings. As you’re driving around, you will notice plenty of cultivation fields, cows and beautiful nature. Take the time to stop now and then to enjoy it all. There are many beautiful vistas to explore, and it’s important to take breaks and enjoy the drive too.
Practical tips for visiting the area
Navigating the area is quite simple once you have access to Google Maps or a GPS/ Google Maps with at least 3G access. You need a car to visit these places. There aren’t many public buses or other modes of transportation in the area. Reception and mobile data will be bad at times (we are, after all in the countryside) so don’t expect everything to run as smoothly and quickly as in the larger cities.
Bring weather appropriate clothing. Sweden is unpredictable when it comes to the weather, especially during summer. Check the forecast and bring clothes accordingly.
Do you have any favorite activities in Österlen? Let me know in the comments!
