Öje: Chapel History, Culture and Nature

Öje combines local cultural history with a range of outdoor activities. Highlights range from the medieval Färdkors in Öje chapel to the 70 km canoe route and seasonal ice rinks. You can choose the focus of your trip according to your interests.

Chapel, cemetery and local history

Öje chapel and its cemetery have a long and significant history dating back to the 16th century. The chapel preserves a pulpit, a medieval Färdkors and unusual folk paintings in the gallery. The interior thus brings together a range of historical elements: pulpit, cross and paintings. For a stay focused on cultural history, the chapel offers a tangible point of reference; the cemetery’s history also goes back a long way.

The Öje Leather Museum displays historical objects in an old leather factory. These objects have remained untouched since Liss-Olle, the last employee, left the factory on a day in June 1977. In contrast to the chapel, the focus here is on the history of the leather factory and its objects.

Another stop on a tour of local history is Vålberget, an old summer farm dating from the 17th century. You can reach the farm via a 7 km winding gravel road. Vålberget offers views over Lake Öjesjön. This place therefore combines a historic building with a view over the lake, while the chapel and museum highlight other aspects of local history.

Getting oriented, canoe route and winter arena

Öje is just off the E45 between Mora and Malung. For accommodation planning, it is important to note when the information was recorded: the municipal service plan for 2024 listed a hostel with camping facilities in Öje.

A 70 km canoe route runs from Öje via Johannisholm to Vansbro. This distance gives you a concrete reference point for planning your trip. Canoes and life jackets can also be rented at Öje Vandrarhem.

In winter, the groomed ice rinks of Öje Winter Arena start at Öje Bad och Camping. The 2 km loop on Lake Bysjön starts at Öjes Bad och Camping and is prioritised over the other rinks when they are cleared. Clearing depends on weather and ice conditions. If you plan to visit the ice rinks, it is advisable to check their condition beforehand.

Hiking trails, mountain biking and fishing

Öje has around 50 km of hiking trails in total. There are also numerous winding forest roads suitable for mountain biking. The hiking trails and forest roads therefore offer different ways to enjoy activities on land; the approximate total length of the hiking trails gives you an indication for this part of your trip planning.

The named waters and fish species also vary when it comes to fishing. In Ogströmmen, you can fish for grayling and trout with a fly or bait. In Lake Öjesjön, you can fish mainly for perch and pike. If you plan your fishing around your target species, the description associates grayling and trout with Ogströmmen, while perch and pike are found in Lake Öjesjön. Cultural sites, trails, water activities and the seasonal winter arena can thus be considered different highlights for a stay in Öje.

Discover more destinations: Stöten, Transtrand, Limedsforsen, Malungsfors, Lima, Malung, Sörsjön, Tandådalen

For the broader travel overview: Malung-Sälen.