Ödeshög Municipality

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Ödeshögs kommun
County Östergötland County
Province Östergötland
Seat Ödeshög
Area
 • Total area
 • Land area
156th of 290
672.10 km²
431.39 km²
Population
 • Total
274th of 290
5,433 inhabitants
Density
 • Total
218th of 290
12.6 inhabitants/km²
Website http://www.odeshog.se/
Area and population as of December 31, 2006

Ödeshög Municipality (Ödeshögs kommun) is a municipality in Östergötland County, Sweden. The seat is situated in the small town of Ödeshög.

The coat of arms was created in 1972 at the time the modern municipalities of Sweden were created. It mainly represents the medieval monastery of Alvastra: An abacy staff, a rising moon (historically representing Virgin Mary), and a six-edged star (representing a higher deity).

Contents

[edit] Nature

A large part of the municipality borders to lake Vättern. There is a small boat port.

Two nature reserves are within municipal borders: Isberga with a distinguished steppe meadow flora [1], and Kråkeryd located on rocks above Vättern at 60 meters altitude. Kråkeryd has a geology rich on lime, and the uncultivated rocky terrain is the location for several unusual flowers and plants [2].

[edit] Localities

There are 2 urban areas (also called a Tätort or locality) in Ödeshög Municipality.

In the table the localities are listed according to the size of the population as of December 31, 2005. The municipal seat is in bold characters.

# Locality Population
1 Ödeshög 2,651
2 Hästholmen 372

[edit] Sights

Within the borders of the municipalities lies the monastery of Alvastra. One of the world's most famous runestones, the Rök Runestone, is also situated within the municipal borders.

There are also other ancient remains: the two hillforts Borgberget and Hjässaborgen. Both are open for visits although not much remains, and both somewhat difficult to access. The municipality also contains gravefields, etc.

Besides the monastery of Alvastra, there are seven other notable churches, several of which have a medieval foundation. Noteworthy are: Rök Church from 1845 (outside which the Rök Runestone is standing), Stora Åby Church, from the 1750s, with several older artifacts (baptismal font, triptych); and Ödeshögs Church with a medieval foundation.

[edit] Famous citizens

[edit] References

[edit] External links