Bilkyrkogården Kyrkö mosse - en annorlunda sevärdhet

The Kyrkö mosse car cemetery outside Ryd in Tingsryd municipality is an unusual sight, to say the least. In the middle of the forests of Småland lie around 150 scrap cars from the mid-20th century. The cars lie like rusty skeletons in the terrain and the site is gradually being taken over by nature.

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Car cemetery Kyrkö mosse

The Kyrkö mosse car cemetery can be seen as a junkyard, a historical heritage site or perhaps a ghostly place that sparks the imagination. This is a place that certainly evokes different thoughts and feelings, but one thing is certain, and that is that it evokes interest. When we were here, the visitors' car park was crowded, and we heard both Swedish and German spoken among the visitors.

The car cemetery Kyrkö mosse is located just outside Ryd in Tingsryd municipality, in Småland.

The story of "Åke on the marsh"

The author of the car cemetery is Åke Danielsson, or Åke on the marsh as he was known. Åke was born in Tröjemåla in 1914 and after school and confirmation, he worked as a farm labourer in Skåne and Småland.

In 1935, Åke bought a peat bog and a shovel. There was money to be made from peat litter, which could become a sought-after fertiliser. Åke was technically minded and built a peat factory with a shredder powered by old car engines.

After the Second World War, cars became more and more common in everyone's garage, and when the car had run its course, it was sometimes abandoned on some deserted forest road. Åke quickly saw an opportunity and started collecting these old abandoned cars. He dismantled and sold spare parts, and what was left was ... the often wheel-less bodies.

In 1974, Åke bought his last scrap car, and in 1992 he moved to the retirement home in Ryd. After several debates about the future of the site, the municipality decided in 2001 that the scrap cars would remain and that nature would be allowed to slowly reclaim the site.

Visiting the Kyrkö mosse car cemetery

Today, the car cemetery Kyrkö mosse has become an almost cult attraction and when we arrived here, the nearest car park was full. We had to park a little further away and walk the last bit.

Visiting the car graveyard is completely free of charge and when you arrive you are greeted by an information sign and a wide gravel path into the forest. The path is initially lined with car tyres and gradually you see more and more of what you expected to see ... old crappy cars.

The cars lie in the wild like bony skeletons and nature does its best to take over. Sometimes the vehicles are overgrown with moss, or branches and brushwood find their way in through windows and exposed hoods.

Who travelled in these cars in the past? Were the cars used for work or perhaps for family holidays?

Some of the people walking around talk about models and car brands. Others are more interested in getting the right photo angle. Still others just look fascinated, amazed ... or perhaps horrified?

Somehow the place tickles the imagination, while at the same time raising many thoughts and concerns. The place is very special, but no more special than the fact that there is at least one other car cemetery in Sweden, namely Båstnäs car cemetery in Årjäng municipality.

Video from the Kyrkö Mosse car cemetery

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

From the Kyrkö mosse car cemetery, it is less than an hour's drive to Växjö, where you can visit Teleborg Castle and Kronoberg castle ruins. We can also recommend visits to IKEA Museum or Huseby mill. Another option is to head for the coast and visit some of the beautiful Ronneby well.

All our top tips for holidays in Småland

Facts about Kyrkö mosse car cemetery

Landscape: Småland
County: Kronoberg County
Municipality: Tingsryd municipality
Address: Värendsgatan, 360 10 Ryd
Location: Just outside Ryd, along County Road 119 towards Hässleholm.
Name: The Kyrkö mosse car graveyard can also be called "Åke's car scrapyard" or just "the car graveyard".

Practical information

Parking: A small car park is available right at the entrance. Additional parking is available further along the road.
Opening hours: Always open
Price: Free of charge
Accessibility: The large gravel path from the car park is wide and relatively flat. Outside the path there is woodland.
To think about: Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. Be careful - there is scrap metal and metal parts everywhere. Don't forget your camera!

READ MORE: Holidays in Sweden - your guide to Sweden's best destinations
READ MORE: Things to do in Småland - tips, sights and experiences
READ MORE: Svenska Museivägen - FREEDOMtravel Themed roads

15 Comments

Add yours →

Johanna+in+Scandinavia says:

We were there some years ago when the children were small. A different place that, as you wrote, tickled the imagination. The children talked about not throwing rubbish in nature, but were fascinated by all the cars.

12 August 2021 - 8:14

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Truly fascinating, while the children are absolutely right!
  
  12 August 2021 - 18:13
  
- Conny says:
  
  Hello we were there now, what interests me is the Àke still lives on the moor, the story has fascinated me great memory and great beautiful photos made.
  
  20 June 2024 - 20:58
  
Christian says:

Cool place, there's something about completely abandoned places...

12 August 2021 - 8:26

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Agreed! Maybe you should look for more special places like that! 😉
  
  12 August 2021 - 18:14
  
JoY says:

Sure it's a special place with all the junk cars with trees growing inside the cars, etc....

12 August 2021 - 9:41

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Truly a special environment!
  
  12 August 2021 - 18:14
  
bmlarstravellingblog says:

These car wrecks are really fascinating. Our Photo Club was on an excursion to Båstnäs but we couldn't join them. We got to see lots of nice photos from there.

12 August 2021 - 11:17

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Understand that it is an interesting destination for a photography club!
  
  12 August 2021 - 18:15
  
Mr Thimon says:

I was there last summer and was fascinated by the place. But I was probably most fascinated by Åke the person. What a true innovative entrepreneur who went his own way and lived a life outside the norm. I love it!

12 August 2021 - 19:44

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad you also found here! Yes, it is fortunate that not everyone is cast in the same mould 🙂 .
  
  13 August 2021 - 7:37
  
BP says:

I have seen many pictures from the car graveyard Kyrkö mosse. I just love it! So much fun to read background facts now. Thank you for them. Then I did not know that there is another car cemetery. Blogglandia is fantastic:-)

12 August 2021 - 19:48

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Can only completely agree about Blogglandia! Learning all the time and getting lots of tips here 🙂 .
  
  13 August 2021 - 7:38
  
Matts Torebring says:

I personally dislike those who park cars in the countryside in this way. We bought the neighbouring plot at work to be able to expand. Two buried cars were found in the excavated material. There was a terrible battle with the municipality and almost a halt to the building work.

12 August 2021 - 20:12

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  We can certainly understand your point of view! We were fascinated by the site, but wondered about the environmental impact and the like. But wow, two buried cars!!! That's crazy!
  
  13 August 2021 - 7:40

The Kyrkö bog car cemetery - a different kind of attraction

Car cemetery Kyrkö mosse

The story of "Åke on the marsh"

Visiting the Kyrkö mosse car cemetery

Video from the Kyrkö Mosse car cemetery

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

Facts about Kyrkö mosse car cemetery

Practical information

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15 Comments

Johanna+in+Scandinavia says:

Helena says:

Conny says:

Christian says:

Helena says:

JoY says:

Helena says:

bmlarstravellingblog says:

Helena says:

Mr Thimon says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

Matts Torebring says:

Helena says:

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