Places to visit along the Vojmå river valley by SouthLapland

Folk-tale Walk in Dikanäs p. 11

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Dikanäs church p. 12

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Matskan area p. 14

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Kvarnforsen recreational area p. 13

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Gråtanån and the bear’s grave p.16

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Sjulsbacken p. 17

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A walk along the Vojmå river p. 18 The new settler fir tree p. 18 Bäsksele missionary school p. 18 Dalasjö’s cross country tracks p. 19 Gubbsele rapids p. 20

PLACES TO VISIT ALONG THE VOJMÅ RIVER VALLEY Photo: Magnus Ström

Be enchanted by the beautiful Vojmå river valley! We have compiled this guide to inspire you to visit some of the exciting destinations along the Vojmå river valley. For more information about outings and places to visit all over the municipality, please contact Vilhelmina Tourist Office. Vilhelmina Tourist Office, Tingsgatan 1, 0940 – 398 86 www.lapplandturism.se/vilhelmina

Have a great day out! VILHELMINA MUNICIPALITY DEVELOPMENT UNIT

Culture-Recreation-Trade and Industry-Tourism

Design: Inger Bodin Adamsson, Upper Case. Translation: English by French. Printers: Varitryck, Vilhelmina 2014

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Published by Vilhelmina Municipality

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Vapstälv river

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Chapel in Skalmodal p. 4

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Fättjaur bathing place p. 4

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Silisen Sami settlement

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Rock climbing hill at Lebnesnjunje p. 6

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Folk-tale Walk in Kittelfjäll

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Henriksfjäll village hall

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Klitvallen

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Matsdal, Kaanan’s land p. 9

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Haymaking cottage by the Dalså river p. 10

Cover photo: Aivas Krapavicius

Eng. Vojm책dalens omslag _Vilhelmina guide omslag (116 mm) 2014-05-05 06:53 Sida 2

Inland Railway (Shown on the map above)

Wilderness Route (Vildmarksv채gen)

E45 highway

Folk-tale Route (Sagav채gen)

E45 highway

For more information about how to get about in our municipality, please contact the Tourist Office.

Welcome!

(Shown on the map above)

(Shown on the map to the left)

Read and be inspired! We have put together some suggestions for outings and places to visit in Vilhelmina municipality. This brochure presents some of the places located along the Vojm책 river that are just waiting for you to explore them.

Have a great day out!

VILHELMINA MUNICIPALITY

CONTENTS Page

Map 1 n 2 n 3 n 4 n 5 n 6 n 7 n 8 n 9 n 10 n 11 n 12 n 13 n 14 n 15 n 16 n 17 n 18 n 19 n 20 n 21 n

Vapstälv river

Chapel in Skalmodal

Fättjaur bathing place

Silisen Sami settlement

Rock climbing hill at Lebnesnjunje

Folk-tale Walk in Kittelfjäll

Henriksfjäll village hall

Klitvallen

Matsdal, Kaanan’s land

Haymaking cottage, Dalså river

Folk-tale Walk in Dikanäs

Dikanäs church

Matskan area

Kvarnforsen recreational area

Gråtanån and the bear’s grave

Sjulsbacken

Walk along the Vojmå river

The new settler fir tree

Bäsksele missionary school

Dalasjö’s cross country tracks

Gubbsele rapids

Vapstälv river

Photo: Anna Wenngren

We have many names for the things we love. The Vapstälv river flows westwards through the Virisen lake towards Norway. In Norway, it first changes name to Skardmordalselva and then further downstream, it changes again to Vefsna. Finally, it flows out into the Atlantic at Mosjöen. This is an area with a rich history and there are about 150 archeological sites on the Swedish side alone. Stop for a break at the lovely rest area by the suspension bridge. This is a good starting point for a hike into the Skalmodal valley, up to Darnekke and the Tjåkkola cottage.

Photo: Anna Wenngren

Chapel in Skalmodal

Photo: Linda Svendsen-Israelsson

The chapel in Skalmodal was inaugurated in 1967. The villagers were able to build their own chapel by holding auctions and other fund-raising activities. Now the chapel is owned by Skalmodal’s village association, “Skalmodalen’s Friends”. The chapel is still used for christenings and weddings.

Fättjaur bathing place By the Fättjaure lake, close to the road, there is a lovely bathing place with a long, natural sandy beach. The shallow water is warmed up rapidly by the sun, making this a perfect place for a swim on a warm summer’s day. Photo: Erica Forsgren

Silisen Sami settlement For a long time, the Sami people were a nomadic people who moved around with their reindeer from pasture to pasture. For many years, Silisen was used as a dwelling place in spring and autumn. Here, the Sami people stopped to rest and allow their reindeer to graze. This was where they got their tools and clothes together before continuing their journey down to their winter settlement or up to their summer dwellings. Photo: Magnus Ström

The settlement consists of a grassy area where the Sami gathered their reindeer for milking or for slaughter. Nearby, there is a Sami hut, storage hut and shed. There is also a spring where modern-day visitors can still fetch crystal-clear water to drink. Around the settlement, there are bone caches, Sami hut sites, hearths and storage pits, all evidence of the ancient Sami heritage of this area. Silisen can be reached by an easy hike from Fättjaur, about 20 kilometres west of Kittelfjäll.

Photo: Max Åke Brantholm

Lebnesnjunje

Photo: Erica Forsberg

Lebnesnjunje marks the end of the Kittelfjäll kam. In the South Sami language, njunje means “offshoot from the mountain”, which explains the name. Here, you can enjoy a walk in sunshine long after the sun has set in the valley below. The view is amazing! There are two ways of going up the hill: a marked-out path or a climbing trail. The climbing trail has a 300-metre long wire which means even novices can have a go at climbing up. Climbing equipment can be rented from the hotel. Lebnesnjunje is also a popular destination for skydivers who do “base jumps”, i.e. they jump off the cliffs and then glide out over the valley. Photo: Lisa Lind

Folk-tale Walk in Kittelfjäll Follow the signs from the Folk-tale Road (Sagavägen) to the Sågforsen waterfall where the Folk-tale Walk starts. By the first resting place, there is an information board showing the various walks. This is a perfect place to stop at and let your children play by the rippling, little waterfall. There are wind shelters, a suspension bridge and several barbecue facilities along the paths. Look out for the little goblins!

Photo: Erica Forsgren

Henriksfjäll village hall For years, the charming village hall in Henriksfjäll has been a natural meeting place for all visitors to our beautiful valley. In summer, coffee and waffles are served here and in this wonderful setting, you can’t help but be fascinated by the well-preserved cultural history of this community. Opposite the village hall, there is an older building fronted with shingle. This was inaugurated in the summer of 2013 as a local heritage museum. Visitors are very welcome!

Klitvallen

Photo: Berit Andersson

The Sami settlement at Klitvallen An easy 4-kilometre hike will take you to this settlement which was still in use in the 1950s. In the latter years, the family lived here in winter too. The Sami hut standing some 100 metres away from the path was the last hut to be inhabited. In 1998, the settlement was renovated and now it is possible to come here and relive a bygone era. The Klitvall cottage Follow the red markings through the fir-tree forest. After one km, you come to the Klitvall cottage, just on the border between the coniferous forest and the mountain birches. By the cottage, there is a wide stretch of felled forest up to the bare mountain slopes. In the 1960s and 70s, this hill was used for ski-ing and many school and club championships were held here. The cottage has been restored and visitors are welcome to use it. But donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to write your names in the guestbook! Come and discover one of the most beautiful spots in our municipality!

Matsdal – Kaanan’s land Mathias Bjuhr was a new settler from the province of Dalecarlia and the first to live here. This spot was named Mathias dal (Mathias’ valley) but was later shortened to Matsdal. It also has a biblical name – Kaanan’s land – and if you go to the Bullerfallet waterfall, about 2 kilometres west of Matsdal, you can find out why! There is a fantastic view from “Storknoppen” with a bird’s eye view of the delta of the Dalså river. There are two ways of getting there: one path Photo: Boo-Thage Ringlöv starts in the middle of the village; the other, not quite as steep, starts about 1 kilometre west of the local heritage museum (hembygdsgården).

Photo: Boo-Thage Ringlöv

Haymaking cottage, Dalså river

Photo: Ulf Westerlund

If you drive from Dikanäs to Matsdal, about 6 kilometres along the way, you will see a sign that says Matsdalsån. A 2½ kilometre walk will take you to the old haymaking cottage by the Dalså river. This cottage is open for hikers and you are welcome to overnight here. Bring your sleeping bag and mat and experience a night in nature! People used to spend the night in this cottage during the haymaking season. Children and adults alike all helped to gather the hay taken from the outspread mires. In the summer of 1996, the cottage was renovated. Its walls hold many happy memories from bygone summers! The path to the cottage is clearly signposted.

Photo: Ulf Westerlund

Folk-tale Walk in Dikan채s Follow the road to Matsdal. Alongside the river, there is a path that leads out into the unknown. Open up your senses and discover all the secrets hidden away by nature. Here you will also meet Stalo, a nasty giant who, it is said, tried to cheat the Sami people but who often ended up in trouble himself. Next to the Folk-tale Walk, there is a fine resting place.

Photo: Harriet Paulsson

Photo: Harriet Paulsson Photo: Harriet Paulsson

Dikanäs church

Photo: Vilhelmina parish

Dikanäs church is the oldest church in Vilhelmina parish. It was inaugurated in the early 1830s, probably in 1833. The church’s first bell was donated by Olof Kristoffersson, a juryman from Söråsele. It was originally a gift from Queen Kristina to Åsele’s old church. The pulpit dates back to the 18th century and was also taken from Åsele’s old church. In 1931 – 1932, the entire church was renovated, resulting in a completely new interior. The altarpiece – “Jesus, the good shepherd” – was painted by artist Tord Nordberg. The church’s present organ was built by J. Menzel, Härnösand, in 1985 and is positioned to the right of the chancel. Photo: Vilhelmina parish

The Matskan area

Photo: Magnus Ström

In the most eastern part of the Marsfjäll nature reserve, you will find Styggröbba, Västra Svartsjöliden and Bakdainan. Here, the forest changes character – from firs and mountain birches to a forest dominated by pine trees, including some very old pines that have managed to survive the forest fires that have ravaged here. Some trees are almost 500 years old! In the upper part of the Matskan watercourse system, there are many fragmented lakes that are surrounded by high moraine hills. The Matskan area offers excellent fishing waters for trout, Arctic char and grayling.

Photo: Erica Forsgren

Kvarnforsen recreational area

Photo: Erika Lindblad

This area has trapping pits, excellent fishing waters and wonderful places to visit with fantastic views. Follow the small road that goes to the power station (kraftverket) and you will see the trapping pits nearby. Just after the campsite, there is a lovely spot where you can get out your thermos and enjoy the panoramic view over the mountains. The road goes all the way there! Kvarnforsen is an excellent place for fishing. Now that the bushes have been cleared along the river bank, this is also a great place for fly-fishing. Buy a fishing permit and try your luck!

Photo: Magnus Strรถm

Gråtanån

Photo: Max Åke Brantholm

Just think, for thousands of years, people have gathered at this spot to survive the winter together. This is the site of one of the oldest relics in the county – a cooking pit dated as 10 000 years old. When the inland ice receded, many people came here since there was ample game, a mild climate and expanding areas of deciduous forest. Moose, fish and beaver became everyday food. There are five remains of huts here – hollows with mounds of cracked stone. Some have been used on and off for 2000 years. There are some 70 trapping pits along a stretch of 5 kilometres! Even today, you can still see the marks made by moose next to the pits that used to be so treacherous. The bear’s grave During the excavations, the grave of a bear was found. Four unfired lead bullets had been placed by the bear’s cranium, showing that the grave was from the 17th-19th century. The Sami people believed the bear to be holy and there were many rituals linked to bear hunting. The bear’s bones were always gathered together after the slaughter and then buried to honour the bear and help its resurrection. Photo: Unknown

Sjulsbacken In 1830, Sjul Anundsson built a Sami hut here. Sjul and his wife had 12 children but because of tragic circumstances, only two of them survived to adulthood. At the end of the 19th century, Erik Gideonsson and Stina Lisa Mattsdotter used horses to move a small timber cabin over the ice-covered GrĂĽtansele river to Sjulsbacken. This was the start of their life as new settlers. The cottage and the Sami hut have now been rebuilt using old handicraft techniques and visitors can go in and imagine what it was like to be a new settler.

Photo: Ingela BroschĂŠ

A walk along the Vojmå river

Photo: Erika Lindblad

The Vojmå river is well-known in Sweden for its grayling fishing waters. There are many windbreaks along the river and easy-tofollow paths through fantastic countryside. With such profuse flora and fauna, there is something new to discover on every stretch of the river.

The new settler fir tree New settlers often had to spend their first summer under a fir tree as they built their house. Often the whole family slept under the tree with the animals they had brought with them up north, usually a couple of goats and sometimes a small cow. The new settler fir tree in Volgsele was built by the study organisation Medborgarskolan and Vilhelmina museum. Crawl inside and go back in time ... Photo: Sten-Åke Svensson

Bäsksele missionary school As Anna Magdalena Mattsdotter sat by her sister’s deathbed, she promised her that she would go to the king and ensure that Sami children would get their own proper school. When she was 16 years old, she put on her skis and set off on the long journey to Stockholm. A string of events led to Anna Magdalena actually meeting the king and when she came home, she was able to see to it that the Sami school opened. It was the first of its kind. The teacher was called Jonas Daniel Lindbom and there was room for up to seventeen Sami children to stay at the school. During school holidays, the children had to put on their skis and travel alone over lakes and mires to meet up with their parents at the reindeer pasture grounds. Today, Bäsksele’s village association do guided tours of this cottage.

Photo: Unknown

Dalasjö’s cross country tracks

Photo: Erik Söderlind

Dalasjö is a wonderful place for cycling, running and hiking. There are several marked-out paths leading to places that may well become your new favourite spots! The cross country tracks start in the middle of the village, just behind the old school, where there is a large information board. There are many eskers (ridges) among the pine-covered heaths and you will be accompanied by rippling watercourses along the way.

Photo: Magnus Ström

Gubbsele rapids Right on the outskirts of Vilhelmina, you will find the Gubbsele rapids (Gubbseleforsen), a popular place for fishing and recreation. Here, the Vojmå and Ångermanälv rivers meet in the calm waters of the Volgsjö lake. Legend has it that the Vojmå river flowed towards the sea but the mountains called her back. She couldn’t resist and turned northwest and then merged with the Volgsjö lake and Ångermanälv river before continuing down to the sea. Come here for true relaxation! This is also the start of the Lakeside Walk.

Photo: Magnus Ström

Photo: Ingela Brosché