Stava - Ödeshög, Fanciskusleden, St. Birgitta Ways

This stage is quite demanding due to the hilly terrain, but it is very scenic. The trail markings can be sparse at times, so keep an eye on the digital map. A good rest spot is the SMU summer home.

Here, St. Birgitta Ways runs along the Franciscan Trail. The main attraction of this stretch is the beautiful nature, the natural paths, and the lovely rest areas along Lake Vättern. The landscape is somewhat hilly, where you sometimes walk higher up with a great view of Vättern and at other times, you come down close to the water.

At Stockseryd, there are well-maintained grazing lands and deciduous forests with oak and hazel trees. The landscape is beautiful, a kind of Sweden in miniature with meadows, lush deciduous forests, and red cottages with white trim.

The trail is demanding in parts but offers breathtaking views over Lake Vättern. The trail follows the edge of Vättern, but it can be difficult to get all the way down to the water due to the steep cliffs.

Before reaching Ödeshög, you can choose an alternative, more scenic route via the Orrnäs farm.

Those who want to reach the center of Ödeshög should follow the 500-meter-long avenue eastward to Turistvägen. Take the opportunity to look at the Svämbroarna, three bridges side by side from three different centuries. At the crossroads, turn left and follow Turistvägen/the old national road into the center of Ödeshög.

More information can be found on the Franciscan Trail's website - Franciskuslenden.

(aug 2024)