Pilgrim trails: Birgitta Way Jönköping–Vadstena
⋅ Monastery Way (West)
⋅ Monastery way (East)
⋅ Virgin Mary round
⋅ Alvastra Trail
Detail maps: Alvastra
⋅ Stocklycke
⋅ Borghamn / North Omberg
Welcome to a pilgrimage hike over Omberg, the sacred mountain of the Ostrogoths, or in the venerable surroundings of the former Alvastra Monastery.
The Monastery Trail (Klosterleden) is the oldest pilgrimage route over the Omberg. It was established in 1999, shortly after the opening of the pilgrimage centre in Vadstena.
The entire Klosterleden, which once stretched from Kolmården in the north and from Alvastra in the south to Vadstena, got its name because it passed eleven monasteries with five different monastic traditions. The latter is no longer the case since the Kolmården–Vadstena connection was abandoned in favour of the Birgitta Way öderköping–Vadstena.
The original route over Omberg went from Alvastra via Hjässan straight on to Ragels kärr, Svartsvall, and past the Convent of the Sacred Heart to Borghamn and Rogslösa.
The route was altered several times, most recently in April 2020 when the Ombergsleden trail on the eastern side of Omberg was moved from the plain to the mountain. Since then, the Klosterleden has followed the western route of the Ombergsleden and continued along the Östgötaleden to Vadstena. The old paths and roads are still accessible. It is now even recommended once again to use the eastern route and the old road past the Convent of the Sacred Heart to Borghamn.
Show map on Pilgrim trails in the Alvastra and Omberg region (full screen)
Jönköping–Vadstena 130 km
Since 2019, work has been underway to create the so-called Saint Birgitta Ways. The intention is to merge existing pilgrim paths into a long-distance route from Hamburg, Trondheim, and Uppsala/Stockholm to Vadstena under the name Birgitta Ways (Birgittavägarna). In this way, Vadstena will be connected with other pilgrimage destinations in Europe and the Nordic countries.
Östgötaleden will then be the last stage on the Hamburg–Lund–Jönköping–Alvastra–Vadstena route, and the trail across Omberg will be one of the most exciting sections. You can already test the new Birgitta Way between Jönköping and Vadstena. A warm welcome!
Saint Birgitta Ways
Franciscusleden (Byarum–Jönköping–Alvastra)
uMap (Pilgrim trails in the Alvastra and Omberg region)
Pilgrimscentrum Vadstena
Alvastra monastery ruins
14 km Alvastra–Borghamn
39 km Alvastra–Borghamn–Vadstena
The Monastery Trail (Klosterleden) follows the western part of the Omberg trail to Borghamn and mostly the Östgötaleden further to Vadstena.
Follow the Östgötaleden/Ombergleden and "Saint Birgitta Ways" markings.
Convent of the Sacred Heart
Bockakyrkogården.
13 km Alvastra-Borghamn
The western trail is sometimes demanding. If you want an easier hike, you can choose the eastern route to Borghamn. You pass Makersbergen with views over Dags Mosse and Tåkern, Renstadsfällan, where tens of thousands of cowslips bloom in May, Ragel's marshes and the eastern fault of Omberg.
Follow the Östgötaleden/Ombergleden markings.
For the pilgrim, a detour through the Ombergliden nature reserve to the Convent of the Sacred Heart is a must. There you can get your pilgrim pass stamped and take part in the nuns' Liturgy of the Hours.
Take the old "Marialeden" or the old Klosterleden to continue from the Convent of the Sacred Heart towards Borghamn or Rogslösa. Both hikes now lack markings. Use UpplevVadstena's maps for orientation. The path from Vallgatan to Ombergsliden is not shown on the Ekopark map, nor is the forest track between Steneborg and Marsafällanvägen/Järnvägen in Borghamn.
Alvastra–Borghamn (eastern trail): uMap
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pdf
Svartsvall–Heliga Hjärtas Kloster–Borghamn:
uMap
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pdf
Up the hill on Getaryggen
8 km
The Virgin Mary round is identical to the northern round of the Omberg trail.
Follow the Östgötaleden/Ombergleden markings. Take the shortcut between Svartsvall and Västra Väggar and walk a short distance over N Sjövägen. (The loop lacks its own signposts and markings). Take the shortcut between Svartsvall and N Sjövägen and the short distance (150 m) over Sjövägen to/from Västra Väggar. If you want to take a detour to the Convent of the Holy Heart, take "Marialeden" instead.
Alvastratrail: Signpost
Stage Ödeshög–Alvastra 9.7 km
Stage Alvastra–Västra Tollstad 3.1 km
Stage Västra Tollstad–Heda 3.8 km
Stage Heda–Alvastra 5.8 km
Västra Tollstad: Pilgrim's park
Västra Tollstad church: Birgitta choir
The pilgrim trail "Alvastraleden" was created by the parish of Ödeshög and connects Ödeshög with Hästholmen, Västra Tollstad (church and pilgrimage park), the Alvastra monastery ruins, Heda (church with prayer chapel and "Our Lady of Heda"), Isberga and St. Broby.
Affisch ⋅ Pilgrim i Alvastrabygd ⋅ FB
The Madonna of Heda
Heda church tower
Saint Nikolaus
Pilgrimage to Alvastra
Pilgrim Mass in Ödeshög
First Wednesday of the month at 9.00 am in Ödeshög Church
Pilgrim walks in the Alvastra area
Sundays 16 and 23 August: High Mass at 11.00 am in Ödeshög Church
The walk starts and ends at Ödeshög Church, returning to the church at around 5.00 pm
Pilgrim Masses 2026 at the Alvastra Abbey Ruins
Thursdays 25 June to 6 August at 7.00 pm.
Facilities:
The map section shows all the ways and paths between Borghamn Strand, Brottsledet and Drottning Ommas Borg.
The direct connection between Borghamn Strand and Drottning Ommas Borg past Bockakyrkogården is steep and you have to hold on to ropes. In addition, the path crosses two fence steps, one of which is directly in the slope. Hikers with walking difficulties or with dogs are best advised to use Bockavägen and Sjövägen (i.e. the official route of Marialeden) or alternatively Bockavägen and the lower motion track.
Facilities:
Facilities:
Rogslösa church
