MagazineSweden Nr 4 2020

SWEDEN’S

BIGGEST TRAVEL ART THEATRE FOOD & DRINK

No 4 • 2020

MAGAZINE ON TOURISM & LEISURE

Lots of wonderful things just waiting for you to discover!

SUMMER IN

SWEDEN Swedish treasures

The Thomander House

Hike och bike the S:t Olavsleden

Discover more than the big cities and the traditional sights

Experience the mid 19th century professor’s home in historical Lund

Follow the famous pilgrim trail across two Scandinavian countries

Photo: Viveca Ohlsson/Kulturen

Kulturen in Lund Kulturen in Lund is a museum spanning two adjoining sites in the heart of Lund. Step into the houses and experience life from the Middle Ages to the 1930s. We also have around twenty exhibitions for you to enjoy, on subjects ranging from folk art to modern design, from mediaeval history to the present day and from local to global culture.

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Kulturen in Lund | www.kulturen.com/english

ADVERTISMENT

Sigtuna offers fantastic experiences, both in nature and culture.

And here you can really talk about culture with quality!

This year more Swedes than ever will stay at home on holiday and there are more reasons than ever to stop and discover what is in the immediate area. Sigtuna offers a lot all year round and you can be sure of the return of foreign tourism as tourism begins to recover.

STAYCATION IN SIGTUNA SIGTUNA HAS WELCOMED GUESTS from near and far for over 1000 years. Explore the magnificent castles, beautiful nature and picturesque Sigtuna Town with unique shopping and winding alleys dating back to the 970s. Book a mini vacation and combine an overnight stay in Sweden first city with an excursion to any of the five castle or maybe a walk along one of the hiking trails? Treat yourself and end the day with a really good dinner at one of Sigtuna’s many restaurants.

This summer, you expect more Swedish visitors than ever?

– We absolutely do! says Anna Lakmaker, CEO of Destination Sigtuna. You don’t have to go far to experience amazing things. We have a wide range of outdoor activities to offer and look forward to see everyone in our immediate area taking advantage of the opportunities for great experiences.

– Sigtuna has a lot of places that are of cultural interest such as the old church ruins that all have a story to tell. Here you can really stop and feel the wings of history.

– You can also take a trip to one of the beautiful nature reserves – on foot, by bicycle or perhaps from the horseback. Here are many nice places to stop for a cosy picnic in the green. The walkway in Sigtuna Town, the green areas and the castle parks are examples of excursion destinations that are very popular!

– You can play golf, swim, go on a guided tour or go shopping. In addition, we have our fantastic castles, which are really worth a visit.

BY TONY MANIERI

Here are some tips for those who want a vacation with the family, with friends or a loved one. Visit destinationsigtuna.se for more exciting Staycation tips.

HIKE THE INTEGERD TRAIL Did you know that Ingegerd, Sweden’s first female saint, was born in Sigtuna? Follow in her footsteps and hike the Ingegerd trail that winds its way through beautiful forests, across fields and past castles. The Ingegerd trail extends all the way from the Storkyrkan in Stockholm, via the Mariakyrkan in Sigtuna, to Uppala Cathedral. Put gold edge on the hike and combine with a good dinner and an overnight stay in Sigtuna.

TEN BEAUTIFUL NATURE AREAS Sigtuna Municipality works actively to promote both biodiversity and experiential diversity and there are no less than ten beautiful nature reserves to explore all year round.

Meet the cows in Steningedalen, see centuriesold pine in the Sköndalsskogen, hike part of the Uppland Trail through Rävsta Nature Reserve – the list of easily accessible nature experiences can be made as long as possible.

ON TWO WHEELS Sigtuna offers a large selection of fine bicycle paths.

Bikes and bicycle guided tours are available in Sigtuna Town.

SIGTUNA HARBOR For boat-borne guests, the guest dock is conveniently located in the middle of Sigtuna Town.

Enjoy Sigtuna’s unique shopping and take a guided city tour to get to know the Medieval town and its history better. The guide from the Sigtuna Museum tells about Sigtuna from its founding in the 970s to modern times. End the day with an ice cream, drink or dinner along one of the town’s cosy ice cream bars, cafes and restaurants.

FIVE CASTLE AND ITS PARKS In the area around Sigtuna there are five castles to discover: Skokloster, Skånelaholm, Steninge castle with Steninge Castle village, Wenngarn and Rosersberg, which is one of the kingdom’s ten royal castles.

The castles all have a unique historical atmosphere, which makes them a treasured excursion destination for both history lovers and those who want to experience a beautiful day in the beautiful landscape.

STAY THE NIGHT – There is so much to see and experience in Sigtuna that you cannot do it in a single day. Therefore, it is good that many of our hotels have good deals for overnight stays. In other words, you’d better book at least one hotel night to not miss out on any of that Sigtuna has to offer, Anna Lakmaker concludes.

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Content

Issue No 4 • 2020

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ENJOY THE MESMERIZING OUTDOORS! Experience some of the hidden gems and make your stay truly memorable. Welcome to wonderful Sweden!

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THE THOMANDER HOUSE The Thomander family was one of Lund’s best known families in the middle of the 19th Century. Welcome to a take a tour of the historical home!

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HISTORICAL SIGTUNA Sigtuna offers fantastic experiences, both in nature and culture. And here you can really talk about culture with quality!

HIKE THE S:T OLAVSLEDEN Hike or bike across two Scandinavian countries from the east coast of Sweden to the west coast of Norway.

STOCKHOLM TOY MUSEUM Inside is an exciting underground maze filled with cheerful coloured walls and stuffed with over 40,000 toys and comic books that attract visitors all year-round.

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THE HISTORY OF STOCKHOLM By virtue of its location, Stockholm is regarded as one of the most beautiful capital cities in the world.

BLACK MOUNTAIN The Black Mountain association works to ensure that the unique environment of the old diabase quarry outside Lönsboda in northeastern Skåne is taken care of and being preserved.

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Museum of Evolution – Palaeontology Uppsala’s Natural History Museum

Editorial

What is summer to you?

Muraenosaurus leedsii (Plesiosaur)

”And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.”

—F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby.

Euhelopus zdanskyi

Pentaceratos sternbergi

View the largest collection of genuine dinosaur skeletons in Scandinavia!

Opening hours: Tue–Sun 12–16 Under 18 free, adults 50 kr

What is summer to you?

To some it means basking in the sun with family and friends around you, to others the summer means cranking up the barbie and gather around the dinner table with lots of laughs and lots of good food.

To others the perfect summer day means sitting by yourself in the shade with a good read and a cool drink.

Others may look forward to exploring big cities and bustling outdoor markets. And yet others might dream about adventurous escapades under the sea, deep in the forests or high in the mountains.

No matter what the picture of your ideal summer is, we promise you will find it in Sweden. Explore our mesmerizing wilderness, stroll along narrow alleys in old centres of historic cities, try out one or all of our fantastic beaches, enjoy local food and drink, visit gallerys and markets, see if you can make a great deal in any of the countless antiques shops in the countryside.

Or just find a quiet spot in the shade with a good read and a cool drink.

Whatever you think about when you hear the word ”summer” – remember that it is right now, right here.

In this issue we present a wide variety of places to enjoy and explore in Sweden. Read about great outdoor adventures, hidden treasures off the beaten track, wonderful cities and lots of inspiring tips on how to make your stay in Sweden even more fantastic.

We wish you a great read and hope that you find your own piece of a perfect summer in Sweden!

Museum of Evolution Zoology, Villav. 9 Museum of Evolution Palaeontology, Norbyv. 22 www.evolutionsmuseet.uu.se

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Tony Manieri, summerlover

SUMMER 2020 Postal address: P.O Box 374, 116 31 Stockholm Web: magazinesweden.com E-mail: info@magazinesweden.com

Editorial

Museum of Evolution – Zoology

redaktionen@magazinesweden.com If you want to reach an individual employee: (respective) firstname@magazinesweden.com EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Marie Tillman ENGLISH TRANSLATION: Michael Logan LAYOUT: Tony Manieri WEB: Sara Ericsson ADMINISTRATION & PROOF: Charlotte Lindmark CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Tony Manieri (TM), Marie Tillman (MT), Anna Ekberg (AE), Caroline Knutsson-Hall COVER: Summer in Sweden PHOTO: Adobe Stock

Marketing and sales HEAD OF SALES: Marie Tillman Tel: +46 (0)707 17 30 50 marie@magazinesweden.com

Uppsala’s Natural History Museum

PROJECT MANAGER: Charlotte Lindmark Tel: +46 (0)706 25 71 78 charlotte@magazinesweden.com SALES: Sara Ericsson Tel: +46 (0)766 08 09 07 sara@magazinesweden.com Reidar Tillman Tel: +46 (0)708 19 80 70 reidar@magasingruppen.se

MagazineSweden is produced and handed out by Lännersta Industrier HB, Stockholm ABOUT MAGAZINESWEDEN: MagazineSweden is a digital entertainment magazine that is published seven times a year and is aimed at foreign tourists. MagazineSweden is not responsible for submitted, unposted material. Prize winners are responsible for any tax on gains in newspaper competitions.

Quote us - but please indicate the source, thank you.

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Welcome to our newly renovated exhibitions. Here you can discover animals from all over the world.

Opening hours: Tue–Sun 12–16 Under 18 free, adults 50 kr Museum of Evolution Zoology, Villav. 9 Museum of Evolution Palaeontology, Norbyv. 22 www.evolutionsmuseet.uu.se

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Noteworthy

An unforgettable visit Borgholm Castle, ”the most beautiful castle ruins of Scandinavia”, ranks among those buildings that leave no visitor untouched. The size of the castle is overwhelming and its geographical setting fascinating. Rarely do nature and architecture form such a unity as here. This unique setting was further accentuated in 1806 when the castle was destroyed by a fire, and the bare limestone walls were all that was left of its former glory.

Borgholm Castle today is the ruins of the fabulous baroque palace that King Karl X Gustav built here in the mid- 17th century. He is the only Swedish king who lived at the castle for a longer period of time.

At Borgholm Castle, many people have come and gone through the centuries: kings and their families, architects, bailiffs and watchmen, prisoners and guards, handicraft people and crofters. Then there were those involved in the building process: masons, lime burners and mortar makers, carpenters, smiths, stone masons och stone layers, scaffolders, glaziers och painters, but also summoned farmers, prisoners and soldiers.

Many of these were non-Swedes, and during some periods more Danish and German than Swedish was spoken in the castle.

Today, Borgholm Castle is one of the region’s greatest tourist attractions providing visitors a unique insight in Swedish, Scandinavian and European history stretching back 900 years! Borgholm Castle is part of our common cultural heritage and is maintained by the National Property Board of Sweden. Borgholm municipality is responsible for the activities that take place at the castle. AE

Stockholm Metro Art Gallery Travelling by subway in Stockholm is like being in a personal, mobile art gallery that allows everyone in transit to experience the beauty of incredible mosaics, paintings, installations, and sculptures. It evokes feelings of being part of a modern-day archeological expedition, full of undiscovered secrets and surprises. The best part? Admission to this gallery costs nothing except for the train ticket, which has been extremely well-received by citizens of Sweden, as well as foreign visitors.

The Stockholm Metro has more than one hundred stations, and at least ninety of them have elaborate art installations as part of their status quo decor.

The subway system was created in 1941, and first opened for public use in 1950. The Metro has since grown to incorporate more than one hundred stations, only one of which is not in use. MT

Sollidenvägen 5, Borgholm www.borgholmsslott.se

Tixis world! ”Who said dogs can’t play computer games?”

Tixi, 1 year

Saltoluokta – Day trip to Stora Sjöfallet Get amazed by nature on a guided day trip to the remainings of Stora Sjöfallet. Between the 15 of July and the 15 of september you can do a hike through history in the Laponian mountain area, to Stora Sjöfallet, a mighty waterfall that was once called the Niagara of the North. travel by boat to get there, on lake Langas - one of the most beautiful lakes in Swedish Lapland. Experience old pineforest and learn more about our nature. Wrap up the tour by cooking lunch and making coffee over open fire. RED www.swedishtouristassociation.com/daytourstorasjofallet

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Photo: Ana Vera Burrin Burata

Noteworthy

Pite Havsbad

Photo: Åke Eson Lindman

Linnaeus’ home and gardens Within an hour’s drive from Stockholm and only 20 minutes from Arlanda, in the university town Uppsala, you find the home and gardens of Carl Linnaeus. In an old charming part of the city center lies the Linnaeus Garden. The beautiful baroque gardens of the world famous botanist and physician provide refuge from the city. They can be viewed as an early laboratory in biology, where Linnaeus studied the life cycle of plants during the shifting seasons.

Today, around 1.500 species of domestic and foreign plants, many of them medicinal or otherwise useful, are arranged according to Linnaeus’ classification system from 1735.

Signs show the scientific names he gave them when he introduced the binomial system of naming organisms, a system still in use today.

The Linnaeus Museum, once his residence, houses a unique collection of personal and scientific objects set within walls covered with handpainted wallpapers. Visit the rooms where he wrote his groundbreaking works, where he taught his students, and brought up his family.

The family’s country estate Linnaeus’ Hammarby just south of Uppsala retains some of the ambience of 18th century summer days with its well preserved manor in a tranquil rural setting. Many plants are living heirlooms from Linnaeus’ time.

Both Linnaeus’ homes are open May through September. CL Svartbäcksgatan 27, Uppsala www.linnaeus.uu.se

THE WORD TOURISM comes from the Latin for thorns - meaning twist, turn, circle. The word comes in to Swedish from English and is supposed to appear in text for the first time in 1824. In 1840, the author C J L Almqvist an article in Aftonbladet entitled ”What is a Tourist?

Wonderful sandy beach and despite its northern location you can find the country’s highest bathing water temperature sometimes. Pite sea bath, or “Nordic Riviera” is a strong and different experience. Where the sweet waters of the Pite River and the salty waters of the Gulf of Bothnia meet, the Pite sea bath is included its kilometer-long fine-grained sandy beach. The shallow bath often has the country’s highest bathing temperature to the segment of the vast sand dunes here capture the warm surface water.

The bath is located a few miles southeast of Piteå and is today and one of Sweden’s largest conference and camping facilities with among other things adventure pool, go-kart track and dome cinema. The campsite is open only in summer, but the rest of the facility is open all year round. AE www.pite-havsbad.se

Abisko from above If you take the chairlift up to STF Aurora Sky Station you’ll discover a whole new world of possibilities. From here you can explore many beautiful hiking trails, experience the rich flora or just enjoy the view from the sun deck at STF Aurora Sky Station.

You can also ride up late in the evening to experience the magic midnight sunlight during the period 18/6-18/7. If you get hungry you can buy a “fika” or a light lunch at STF Aurora Sky Station. Riding the chairlift up Mt. Nuolja should be on the bucket list for your Abisko visit! MT https://www.svenskaturistforeningen.se/aktiviteter/ abisko-aurora-sky-station-2/ MAGAZINE SWEDEN

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Noteworthy TRAVELING AROUND EARTH

means globetrotting, you have to start and finish in the same place and at the same time, move in one direction. You have to prick two antipodes, that is, two places that are on the other side of the earth from where you start. In addition, you should: A: Pass the equator at least two times. B: Pass all longitudes. C: Total travel at least 40,000 km. If you manage it in 80 days, it will be a gold star at the end.

Ales stones Sweden’s largest shipwreck was probably added sometime between the years 550 and 800. It is spectacularly situated on a high plateau on the coast in southeastern Skåne.

Above the harbor in the fishing village Kåseberga is Sweden’s largest shipwreck, which agrees 59 boulders and is 67 meters long.

The shipwreck was probably built sometime during the Vendel period (550–800) and is considered a grave monument. But she has not yet found a grave. However, the facility has not yet been fully excavated.

An annual player of visitors comes to the fishing village Kåseberga to get up on the ridge to the shipwreck, but also to visit the Sea Rescue Museum and the restaurants or the nice fish smokehouse nearby. RED ystad.se/turism/se-och-gora/sevardheter-och-besoksmal /kaseberga-och-ales-stenar/

The Rök runestone The Rök runestone (Swedish: Rökstenen) is unlike any other archaeological find in the world.

It’s believed to have been carved in the first half of the 9th century, but as the old Norse belief system began losing ground to Christianity, the stone’s mythological purposes were forgotten. It was unceremoniously repurposed into building material for a church in the 12th Century. AE Ödeshög, Sweden

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Sweden’s cultural heart and soul Dalarna is the heart and soul of the Swedish folk tradition. Many of the symbols you might think typically Swedish is deeply rooted in Dalarna: Midsummer celebrations, red-painted cottages, the gorgeous folk costumes, foot-tapping folk music and – of course – the Dala horse.

There are many cultural attractions in Dalarna and some of them have to be on your Dalarna ‘bucket list’. One is joining a Midsummer celebration with dance around the May pole in any town or village in Dalarna at the end of June. Another has to be a visit to the Falun Copper Mine and surroundings, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The profits from the copper extracted here helped Sweden to become a major European power back in the 17th and 18th centuries. And the famous ‘Falu red’ colour that half of all the houses in Sweden are painted in, comes from the mine as well. Take the underground tour and visit the Mine Museum, you won’t regret it.

Other cultural highlights in Dalarna include homes of world-famous local artists Carl Larsson and Anders Zorn. The Zorn Museum and the Zorn-gården in the town of Mora, and the Carl Larsson-gården in Sundborn just outside Falun. For open-air concerts head for the acoustically superb Dalhalla open-air concert venue near Rättvik. The setting, in a disused quarry, is as spectacular as the acoustic sounds. MT www.visitdalarna.se

Book your bus trip to Svarta Bergen - The mecca of the black diabase and the world’s largest open-pit mines.

Museum of Natural and Stone Workers Take the raft • Book guided tour Stay, hike and experience the unique environment or have a good meal and snack in the dining room Welcome!

Book accommodation with us In our village or in the cottages built into the mountain. Or in our tastefully decorated lodge.

You can do this via booking.com search on Hjärtasjön

Svarta Bergen • Hägghult 280 70 Lönsboda • www.svartabergen.se Info@svartabergen.se • For group booking, call 0479–215 20

Experiences

Orbaden – the riviera of Hälsingland

Great outdoors!

Sweden offers fantastic destinations and places where you can experience so much more than just the pulse of the city or the traditional sights. Experience some of the hidden gems and make your stay truly memorable. Welcome to wonderful Sweden!

Magical Trollsjön Lake Trollsjön outside Abisko is compared to Lake Garda in Italy. According to old legends sulfur is said to protect against witchcraft and it is the link to the Swedish name Trollsjön. The lake really shines like fire.

Not far from Abisko is Låktatjåkka or Vassijaure where you can take the train. From there it is a six kilometer hike to Trollsjön. Start

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with a walk through a beautiful forest, then climb upwards and be rewarded with a fantastic view. After the hike, you continue through Kärkevaggedalen, which is a fairytale landscape with rock formations created during the ice age, lush meadows with mountain flowers and small winding streams. Then you come to the magical Trollsjön Trollsjön. Clear blue water flows down from nearby glaciers and does Trollsjön is crystal clear with the opportunity to see 36 meters down into the depths.

Enjoy the beautiful view and take the chance to take a refreshing swim.

Stenshuvud National Park Stenshuvud National Park was formed in 1986 and is located in the south-eastern part of the province of Skåne. For a long time the area has

Experiences

The picturesque archipelago of Åstol

been affected by grazing and farming. Stone mounds piled up to clear land, stone fences and ancient remains in the area bear witness to the presence of people and their impact on the countryside.

The national park occupies 400 hectares, including 80 hectares of sea. Stenshuvud mountain itself consists of three peaks. The northern one, rising 97 metres above sea level, is the highest. To a large extent, the area is covered with forest, hornbeam being the predominant type of tree. Older trees with broad canopies, such as beech and oak, remain from the time when grazing took place in the area.

Today grazing livestock have returned to the national park, keeping the countryside open.

The many different biotopes in the national park contribute to an abundant variety of flora and fauna. Here you will find sandy heaths, wet meadows, rocky coastland and beautiful sandy beaches. Below the mountain on the west side, there is a bog and alder marsh. The national park has abundant flora with some rare species such as barren strawberry, black spleenwort, sand pink, pasqueflower and immortelle.

Ombo Islands

The land access is partly financed by EULife Nature.

Here you find Karlsborgs own archipelago – Ombo islands is a popular tourist destination with beautiful views and amazing sea life.

People come here – both by land and sea – to experience the magical nature.

Ombo lies in the northern part of Vättern’s archipelago. The five hilly islands, with a dramatically look, have an irregular beach contrast and vertical mountain edges down into the water. Here you find nature harbours, bays, and lagoons with clay seabed.

The bays where the wind reach sometimes has shingle rock seabed. On the island grows up to 300-year-old and partly wild wood like rocky ground pine forest with moss carpets.

The area between Ombo islands and the main land is called Djärknesundet. Here you also find the rocky ground pine forest on the mountain parts that goes out into the water.

The terrain is very cut up, with a lot of opportunities for to dive from the cliffs or by the sand beaches where Djärknebäcken reach Vättern.

Anna and the West Sea Join a unique art experience. Every summer a sculpture exhibition with world-leading artists is arranged in the middle of the Bohuslän cultural landscape, with its grazing sheep and traces from the Stone Age. Sculpture in Pilane is a wild experience for all ages. Anna and the West Sea The exhibition area is more of a living landscape than a traditional park, and you can either walk where the fancy takes you or follow the beaten paths over meadows and hillsides. From the hills you have a fantastic view of the West Sea and the Bohuslän archipelago.

One of the largest and most beautiful sculptures is found here, “Anna” by Jaume Plensa, which has become a landmark for the whole of the West Coast and is now permanently located in Pilane.

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Experiences Pilane is among the top ten attractions in Europe. New works of art are shown every summer. Since 2007 Sculpture in Pilane has shown art by Erwin Wurm, Tony Cragg, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Jaume Plensa, Alice Aycock, Bernar Venet and Laura Ford, among others. In 2016 the Guardian, a major British newspaper, nominated Sculpture in Pilane as one of the ten best sculpture parks in Europe.

The alvar landscape If farmers on Öland had not raised livestock, no alvar would have existed. It is due to the interplay between man, animals and a peculiar nature that these open plains have been formed and preserved. There are alvar plains in both Northern and Southern Öland, with the Great Alvar in the south as the best known example.

Blue Öland Take the opportunity to discover Öland as you will not see it by car or bike, on a tour with geologist Jan Mikaelsson. During this guided tour along the coast between Byxelkrok and Horns Udde, you will hear about Öland’s exciting history from the time when the island lay on the southern hemisphere until the present!

You will of course also learn about the island’s unique limestone with its ancient animal life in the form of fossils, and the significance of limestone for the local population throughout history. At the quarry near Horns Udde you will see traces of early quarrying during Gustav Vasa’s era from a completely different perspective that sets the imagination going.

Hanseatic town of Visby Visby was the main centre of the Hanseatic League in the Baltic from the 12th to the 14th century. The Hanseatic town of Visby was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1995 with the following justification: Visby is an outstanding example of a north European medieval walled trading town which preserves with remarkable completeness a townscape and assemblage of high-quality ancient buildings that illustrate graphically the form and function of this type of significant human settlement.

Gotland Museum At Gotland Museum you can see the unique picture stones, gold and silver treasures, au-

Sundborn, Dalarna, the beautiful village where the artist Carl Larsson lived

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thentic medieval interiors among a lot of other things. 8000 years of rich history from Stone age, Viking Age, the Middle Ages until present times. Exhibitions reflect the cultural history of Gotland.

Kosterhavet national park Many of the rare and unique species live in the depths of Koster’s underwater fjord, the Koster trench. It runs through the national park from north to south and attains a depth of 247 metres.

The Koster trench is connected with deep submarine areas in Skagerrak that continue all the way out to the North Atlantic’s continental slopes. From there ocean water with high salinity and low temperatures is conveyed into the Koster fjord. That enables many deep-water fauna to live here in very close proximity to the coast. In all, about 12,000 species can be found in the national park area, which covers about 390 square kilometres. Kosterhavet National Park is comprised primarily of water and underwater environments. It is Sweden’s first marine national park and is located in the municipalities of Strömstad and Tanum.

In addition to a large expanse of water, the

Experiences

Peaceful and lovely archipelagos are scattered all around the swedish coastline

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Experiences

The old city center of Lund national park also encompasses parts of Rossö island and a large number of islets and skerries, especially in the archipelago south-west of Koster. South Koster and North Koster are not included in the national park, except for a couple of areas on South Koster. The profuse nature of the Koster islands has long been protected as a nature reserve. The same is true of the adjoining nature reserves on the islands of Saltö and Nord Långö .

Next door to Kosterhavet National Park is the Norwegian sister park, Ytre Hvaler.

Together these two national parks form a large and valuable marine area with strong environmental protection.

making them perfect for circular hikes.

The entire trail is marked with orange markers and signs, so you always know where you’re going.

Walk the coastal sections for dramatic contrasts between rocky shores, sandy beaches and the open sea, or hike the hillsides of mid-Skåne with lush green beech forests, fascinating rock formations and abundant flora and fauna. If you want that sense of remote seclusion, the lakes in north-east Skåne are surrounded by deep forests and historic sites.

The Skåneleden Trail

The High Coast Trail extends through the entire world heritage site, from Hornöberget in the south to Örnsköldsvik city in the north.

The environment along the trail varies a lot and shift between deep forests, mountain tops, sandy beaches, steep cliffs and green meadows.

The 130 km long High Coast Trail stretches through the entire World Heritage Site that shares its name, starting in Hornöberget in the south and ending in Örnsköldsvik in the north.

The trail is divided into 13 sections that are a unique mix of coast and forest with exciting areas rich in flora and fauna along the way.

The entire Skåneleden trail is marked with orange markers and signs, so you’ll always know in which direction to go.

The Skåneleden Trail is a 1,250 kilometre-long marked long-distance hiking trail through the countryside of Skåne. Choose from five separate sub-trails comprising a total of 105 sections, some of which are connected,

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The High Coast Trail

There are numerous activities, side trails and unique nature experiences for you to enjoy: deep forests, high till-capped mountains, rocky shorelines, mountaintop viewpoints, cobble fields, sandy swimming beaches and nature reserves. At times you will find yourself up to 250 metres above sea level. Nowhere else in Sweden can you hike at these heights so close to the sea!

Regardless if you are a beginner or an experienced hiker, there will be sections perfect for you along the trail. We want you to have a fantastic time on the High Coast Trail – take your time and enjoy yourself, you are about to experience some of the World Heritage Site’s absolute highlights.

Österlen Southeast Skåne including Österlen is the county’s piece of paradise. Lose yourself in the romantic views over rolling fields, drop by a quaint farm shop to pick up fresh food, or stay in an idyllic fishing hamlet and enjoy fresh fish from the early morning catch.

Text: Editorial Photo: Stock photo

Experiences

Skulane in the High Coast

Beachlife in Österlen, Skåne

Abiskojokk river in Abisko National park in Northern Sweden

Ombo Islands in the Vättern archipelago MAGAZINE SWEDEN

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Experiences

Reading by the window. Photo: Viveca Ohlsson, Kulturen

The dining room. Photo: Viveca Ohlsson, Kulturen

The library. Photo: Viveca Ohlsson, Kulturen

The Thomander House and its garden. Photo: Viveca Ohlsson, Kulturen

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A maid working in the kitchen. Photo: Viveca Ohlsson, Kulturen

Visiting children exploring the Grand Hall on the first floor. Photo: Viveca Ohlsson, Kulturen.

Experiences

Welcome to The Thomander House at Kulturen in Lund A professor’s family home in the mid 19th century The Thomander family was one of Lund’s best known families in the middle of the 19th Century.

In fact, Johan Henrik Thomander, the father in the family, became a famous figure in Sweden over all. From 1833 to 1855 the family lived in a house at Paradisgatan in Lund. In the 1920’s it was moved to the museum Kulturen in Lund. Welcome to a take a tour of the Thomander home!

T

he Thomander family were intellectuals, academic “upper middle-class”. Materially they definitely lead a better life than most in those days, but they were not economically independent. Johan Henrik was a professor of theology when he lived in the house at Paradisgatan, and later the bishop of Lund. A great intellectual, he was the first to translate Shakespeare to Swedish and spoke eight languages fluently.

Johan Henrik Thomander (1798–1865) grew up in difficult circumstances. He was born out of wedlock and raised by his grandmother in Karlshamn. Eventually, Johan Henrik became a private tutor, and through the family he served, he was acquainted with Emilie Meyer.

She was the daughter of a well-to-do utility patron. She had attended a girls’ school in Copenhagen and helped her father in his business.

Luckily, her father had his daughter’s happiness in mind and approved of Thomander as a suitor.

Johan Henrik and Emilie’s four daughters Ida, Emma, Fredrika and Natalia grew up in the house in Paradisgatan. Three or four maids worked and lived in the house as well. This was standard for a family of this kind. Emilie was known as a woman of knowledge, who loved to

read and study and write, but never enjoyed domestic work.

The everyday living room of the family had two windows facing the street. They needed to make use of daylight, so chairs and tables were put in front of the windows, where the members of the family could sit down to write and read. But this was also a way for them to show

Portraits of Emilie and Johan Henrik Thomander.

Drawings by Maria Röhl, 1851.

off, to watch and to be watched by others. Anyone in the street outside could of course see them sitting here, reading heavyweight novels in different languages, wearing exclusive clothes.

The household work was demanding for the maids. In the kitchen, most food was cooked over open fire, and the water had to be carried

in buckets from the well in the backyard. But the dining room on the ground floor was elegant, and often laid for a spectacular dinner.

The Great Hall on the first floor was used whenever they had guests. After a dinner with friends down in the dining room, the evening often continued up here with a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate, (or perhaps something stronger), around these tables. Connected to the Great Hall is a music room. The four young daughters of the Thomander family were taught to play the piano, as an important part of their education. They provided the background music for the parties in the Great Hall.

The family’s library on the first floor has also been preserved. Thousands of books in several languages, including Johan Henrik’s own translation of the Bible, and of some of his translations of Shakespeare’s works.

In 1851, Johan Henrik got a new position in Gothenburg, and the family left their house in Lund. They moved back to the city a few years later when Thomander became the bishop of Lund, and moved in to the Bishop’s Residence.

Late in her life, Emilie wrote to a friend of her’s that the years in the house at Paradisgatan had been the happiest in her life.

Text: Editorial

MAGAZINE SWEDEN

19

Nostalgia

Steam locomotive with a time machine In 1959, a few railway enthusiasts began to run steam locomotives with 600 mm track-width on a brickworks railroad outside Södertälje.

This was Sweden’s first Railway Museum, and it was called Östra Södermanlands Railroad, ÖSlJ.

I

n 1964, SJ ended its traffic route Mariefred - Leggesta. ÖSlJ then had the opportunity to take over and rebuild the 11-kilometre-long track to 600mm slim track and started traffic for the public.

By the late 1990s, the state railway between Södertälje and Eskilstuna was built. In connection with this, ÖSlJ was able to acquire the disused Nedesta-Taxinge-Näsby route, which was then rebuilt to the 600mm track width.

Today, ÖSlJ runs passenger traffic every day during the summer season and on Saturdays and Sundays during spring and autumn.

THE SLIMMEST TRACKS

The Museum Association Östra Södermanland Railway is a non-profit association that works with collecting, renovating, preserving and operating show- locomotives and wagons from the country’s slimmest railways, those with 600- mm track width.

There have been seven such railways with passenger traffic in Sweden, but also many industrial railroads. The first of the seven was the Kosta-Lessebo Railroad, which opened in 1888. The 600-mm track with passenger traffic had its golden period in the early 20th century.

Most closed down in the 1930’s when competition from buses and cars became too strong.

BREAKFAST WITH KING OSCAR II OF SWEDEN

The station in Mariefred is built in Art Nou-

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MAGAZINE SWEDEN

veau style, and at the inauguration of the railroad between Mariefred and Leggesta on 30th September 1895, King Oscar II had lunch in the waiting room. The station house currently has the railway operation on the ground floor and the library and staff areas upstairs.

The station clock, a clock with a pendulum, was made in 1893 for Jönköping-Gripenberg Railway. Before it came to Mariefred in 1966, the clock could be found at the Jönköping East Station. The station house in Leggesta was also built in 1895 in a style that was then common for smaller stations in the countryside regions. ÖSlJ has restored the station and returned the waiting room to its former glory.

IT’S OWN TICKET PRINTING

Taxinge Näsby station was also built in 1895 but a stepped gable fashion from Skåne. The then owner of Taxinge Castle, the Earl Arvid Posse, from Skåne, paid for the station house and let his son Fredrik Posse, a well-known railway builder, to influence the drawings. In the house, ÖSlJ own ticket shop is installed and outside is an old-fashioned semaphore.

LIKE A TIME MACHINE

If you travel on the railway, there is a spoken route description via a mobile app. Through the app ”Time Machine”, the traveller receives a continuous description of what you see through the train window on the trip between Mariefred and Taxinge. An unexpectedly modern meeting between past and present.

Text: Marie Tillman Photo: Östra Sörmlands Järnväg

FACTS

ÖSlJ has about 1500 members who support the business with its annual fees. About 130 of them work actively and voluntarily on the track with traffic and with the renovation and maintenance of the materials in their workshops. ÖSlJ has eleven steam locomotives, nine engine locomotives, an electric accumulator locomotive, a multiple-unit train, 17 passenger cars and over 30 goods wagons.

Most of the equipment is in working condition. More information about the passenger carrying 600-track can be found at an exhibition at the Jernvägscaféet, on the wall panels in the station house in Mariefred.

The home and gardens of Linnaeus

May–September Tues-Sun 11-17 www.linnaeus.uu.se

The Linnaeus Garden with the Linnaeus Museum in Uppsala

In balance with nature.

We love to paddle, to be close to the sea and its nature, and getting others to find and feel that love.

We have courses in paddle technology, we have tours with tents, we have winter paddling with indoor living.

We have rentals for short and long trips and we have great knowledge of Bohuslän which we are happy to share.

We give people contact with nature, both outside and inside themselves.

www.balanspunkten.nu

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MAGAZINE ON TOURISM & LEISURE

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Wonderful spas in Sweden

Pamper yourself at some of the many spas and retreats this summ er

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Lots of tips about excit ing, classic and quirky museums all around Sweden

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Experiences

Absolut Warhol Blue (1985) by Andy Warhol

Warhol at Spritmuseum Spritmuseum and the Absolut Art Collection recently recovered the lost companion piece of the original Andy Warhol artwork for Absolut Vodka. It is entitled Absolut Warhol Blue.

T

he painting was one of two Warhol pieces commissioned in 1985, when Vin & Sprit AB created what was to become one of the world’s bestknown advertising campaigns for its brand, Absolut Vodka. Between 1985 and 2004, 550 artists from around the world were commissioned to create portraits based on the inimitable vodka bottle outline.

Andy Warhol was the first artist brought on board. His piece “Absolut Warhol” quickly became an iconic symbol of the Swedish stateowned company’s US advertising campaign.

Vin & Sprit AB commissioned two paintings from Warhol, but only one was reproduced as an advert. The other was forgotten, and when the Swedish state donated the collection to Spritmuseum in 2008 in conjunction with the sale of Vin & Sprit AB, it was not included.

When it suddenly appeared at an auction

35 years later, questions arose about its ownership, causing the piece to be recalled from the auction.

Realizing that this might be the lost Warhol piece, Spritmuseum launched a thorough investigation of its ownership. As the investigation proceeded, it quickly became clear that this, in fact, was the other Warhol.

– Spritmuseum was able to prove that this was the painting commissioned in 1985 but not included when the collection was handed over to the museum, says Museum Director Ingrid Leffler. We are grateful and happy to be able to reunite Absolut Warhol’s companion piece with the rest of the collection.

– For us, it feels fantastic that this essential artwork has come home, says Mia Sundberg, curator of the collection. We’re currently looking at how to publicly exhibit Absolut Warhol Blue as soon as possible.

Text: Editorial MAGAZINE SWEDEN

23

Experiences

Find the Balance Point

A kayaking trip along the Swedish west coast is a wonderful adventure. Slowly gliding forward you will experience narrow passages amongst the cliffs and then the next moment out in the vast open sea where you get to know the forces of nature. With much more awaiting you suchas – Balance Point in Grundsund which brings you a new experience each day.

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MAGAZINE SWEDEN

Experiences

T

he slow rhythm of the North Sea waves on a calm summer day is an added dimension. Surrounding sounds and silence can both arises when the sea is hit by rain. Maybe you will be visited by curious seals or you’ll surprise some seabirds as you slowly sail over forests of seagrass. The go ashore by the smoothest of cliffs and enjoy lunch which is included and then maybe have a swim, then sail out into the salty blue-green sea again happy and relaxed.

Swedish magazine gets a conversation with Christina Ingemarsdotter a wellness therapist and owner of Balance Point: Kayaking feels like one summer activity, but it will be a lovely one experience even in winter?

– Absolutely! We have offered winter kayaking for three years now, and everyone who has been here finds it absolutely breathtaking. Winter paddling around the surrounding landscape of Bohuslän as it emerges is just superb. Often when you’re out and about as tourists there are lots of things to see, rather than watching just one. You do not see one entire thing.

Whereas in the summer it’s full of people and boats, hectic activity everywhere, in winter it’s quiet and not as busy. That’s the attraction with winter paddling; you experience harmony with your surroundings where you really feel that you’re at one with nature and the elements.

The fact that there are very few distractions allows a deeper contact with nature, but also with yourself. You feel so small and humble thereby gaining an increased presence - both outwardly and inwardly.

You also offer yoga along with other mental and physical exerciser on Grundsund?

– Yes, it’s largely related. The body and soul are most comfortable when doing something for both. This is lacking in our daily lives as many people choose to either do something for either the soul or body. Here you get the opportunity to do something that benefits both.

– During the physical challenge of paddling you’re physically working the body whilst also staying tranquil, the fantastic scenery doing wonders for the soul. The whole experience Is so much richer similar to yoga, when the body and soul meet.

DIFFERENT KAYAKING CHALLENGES

The balance point offers customized kayak packages along with a knowledgeable guide who knows the surroundings and all its secrets.

The guide contributes with good campsite choices, good food and provides tips on good paddle techniques for different circumstances.

Days are filled with simple but important choices and a good night’s sleep after the physical work. With Balance Point you can paddle to Strömstad, Gothenburg or choose to paddle around Orust, Skaftö, or around the Gåsö archipelago and maybe even around the harbor.

Winter trips will often take place under slightly more severe conditions conditions. Then you make sure you get to stay indoors when it’s dark, eat well and sleep in a proper bed.

– Kayaking can be enjoyed so many different ways. I myself love the grand stillness - to go out when it’s big waves, so that you can parry the winds and try to progress. It is very educational for all those who choose to follow such a tour.

– People are looking for different experiences. Some want an intense and physical challenge under tricky weather conditions, whilst others prefer to just glide forward in silence. With us there is a wide spectrum of possibilities, most certainly something for everyone.

– During the summer months we also have our ‘wind and wave’ courses. I take people out on adventures that they would never normally do. They get to experience, understand and they learn how to behave under difficult conditions, which is very important whilst at sea.

– During the winter months, however, it’s important to be more careful and stay together in a group. I usually say that when going for a winter paddle, your group should wear the correct clothing and you should stay together and keep each other safe. If you wear too little clothing it will put you and the others in your group at risk.

– We are always very careful with the safety training before we go, so that there is very little risk something like that would happen, it would not be good to test your dry suit unplanned!

February. Sun and calm. Photo: Pia Herbertsson

December. Smögen in the back. Photo: Clara Lerbro

Text: Tony Manieri Photo big picture: Christina Ingemarsdotter

New Year’s Eve with fireworks in gray.

Photo: Henrik Sonesson

MAGAZINE SWEDEN

25

VISBY INNER CITY APARTMENTS & ROOMS

Experience Visby in the summer from SEK 725 Stay in the middle of the wonderful world heritage city!

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Visit permanent and temporary exhibitions, and Nationalmuseum Jamtli – a new arena for art and design experiences.

During summer, the open air museum comes alive.

Once you enter Jamtli Historyland, anything can happen!

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Experiences

Photo: Serny Pernebjer

Photo: Bengt Nyberg

Photo: Jens Lennartsson

Sweden’s southernmost wilderness f you look at the Blekinge map and at the same time read the heading ”Sweden’s Southernmost Wilderness” you might be surprised? But the fact is that Olofström is just that: A large lake system in a municipality that is among the richest in the state. Surrounded by vast forests with trails for hiking, horseback riding and cycling. Dramatic scenery broken by mountain cliffs with majestic viewpoints over the water and challenging terrain. In short, a world where you can be an explorer far from civilization and everyday noise if you wish.

T

he area around Lake Halen is an important hub for visitors. Here you can live Robinson life in wind shelter or check in at SPA between just adventurous excursions. The tail area provides both opportunities - and everything in between. You visit Sweden’s Southernmost Wilderness to challenge yourself and become one with nature. Or just to relax in an idyllic setting and pamper yourself for a while. Here you can rent a canoe to go out along the Halen’s trails to find your own strawberries. If you want to get through the entire lake system with Raslången and Immeln (all the way to Skåne) you can count on several days. Then there are centers along the road

where you can pick up and leave the canoe I and around Halen are offered besides canoe rental including camping, swimming, hotels, restaurants, paddle, sauna and fishing.

WORLD CLASS FISHING!

With over 200 lakes and Mörrumsån in the municipality, we are Sweden’s answer to the UK’s ”Lake District”. If you are planning a fishing holiday, you will be offered a rainbow at Harasjömåla Fishing Camp, pike in Lake Halen and salmon in the calm running water of Mörrumsån next to Ebbamåla Bruk. You may want a lake just for yourself ? At Brokamåla Gård you can subscribe to your own lake and enjoy a sauna and good food.

RIDE, HIKE, BIKE!

cling and horse riding. Get on a bike from Växjö to Simrishamn on the Southeast Trail that runs through the northern parts of Olofström.

Stay at Ebbamåla Mill and experience the history of the industry in a unique way. Why not stay for the night and test the fishing in Mörrumsån? It is not for nothing that Olofström was named Outdoor Municipality of the Year 2019. In the immediate area you will find gems such as: The Marine Museum in Karlskrona, the IKEA Museum in Älmhult, KREATIVUM in Karlshamn, Sölvesborgsbron & Hanö in Sölvesborg as well as a variety of farm shops.

Welcome to the wilderness!

Text: Editorial

In Sweden’s southernmost wilderness you will also find long and varied trails for hiking, cyMAGAZINE SWEDEN

27

Experiences

Hike or bike the S:t Olavsleden pilgrim trail

Hike or bike across two Scandinavian countries from the east coast of Sweden to the west coast of Norway. Whether cycling or walking, your St Olavsleden experience will include stunning scenery from meadows and mountains to farmlands and fjords. It will be a cultural and culinary delight dotted with the warmest of welcomes from the friendliest of locals.

F

or many people, a pilgrimage is an escape from the hectic pace of daily life. For others it’s a lifelong spiritual dream, or perhaps a physical challenge to overcome.

There are many ways to enjoy all or just parts of the 564 kms that Viking King Olav once travelled. Find the right pilgrim experience for you with Aktivut Travels.

“Most pilgrims don’t embark on this kind of trip often and our mission is to help everybody focus on their own personal pilgrimage while we take care of everything else along the way,” says Sofie Julgård Löfgren, Founder of outdoor experience company Aktivut.

St Olavsleden packages offered by Aktivut Travels include accommodation, food, luggage transportation, route information and more, for both hikers and cyclists. For groups or others looking for a customised experience or additional activities, Aktivut Travels offers tailor-made itineraries that can include yoga, skiing, local culinary experiences and more.

“We are locals, we live in the area and all our guides and staff hike, bike, run, kayak or ski along different parts of the St Olavsleden as part of daily life. We know the route intimately

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and love showing it to people from all over the world,” continues Sofie.

WHO ARE AKTIVUT TRAVELS?

Aktivut has more than 20 years of experience of guiding people in the great outdoors, and we’ve been helping pilgrims along St Olavsleden since it re-opened in 2013. We have a team of outdoor guides, mountain guides, officials and specialists covering a broad spectrum of skills.

“Spending time in nature with our guests is what we live for. We only work with local suppliers and guides so that we can provide genuine, responsible and sustainable tourism experiences will full respect for nature and culture”, explains Sofie Sofie Jugård Löfgren.

Aktivut Travels is located on the island Frösön, Östersund, just next to St Olavsleden.

Our packages and guided tours along the pilgrim route are based on helping you enjoy the areas where we love to spend our free time. Contemplation and being present in nature provide a fantastic experience for pilgrims of all levels.

Join Aktivut Travels on one of our St Olavsleden packages or contact us for a tailor-made trip at www.aktivuttravels.com.

Text: Editorial Photo: Aktivut Travel

Aktivut Travels’ top tips for S:t Olavsleden Visit Glassbaren in Bräcke for the best Swedish ice cream.

Stop for a few minutes extra at Hälleberget to enjoy the stunning view.

Go past the monastery in Munkeby and buy their cheese to enjoy during your hike.

Quench your thirst at one of the many cold-water springs along the route.

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MAGAZINE SWEDEN

29

Welcome to Tylebäck

The natural meeting place Meetings • Hotels • Wellness • Relax • Restaurant • Lunch • Party • Events

Summer Gothenburg –- aa delight your senses!

Summer ininGothenburg delighttoto your senses!

Let us introduce you to the beautiful city of Gothenburg

Let to the beautiful city of Gothenburg withusitsintroduce stunning you surroundings on the west coast. with its stunning surroundings on the west coast.

Listen to stories about the fascinating history of the city by

Listen to stories about the fascinating history of the the river.

Feel theFeel breeze the sea city by the river. theof breeze of and the the sea salt andsplashed the salt islands of our archipelago.

Enjoy the enchanting beauty of splashed islands of our archipelago. Enjoy the enchanting our canals, parks and gardens.

Letgardens. yourselfLet be yourself amazed by beauty of our canals, parks and interesting andarchitecture fine art from several centuries be amazed architecture by interesting and fine art from several centuries and explore the Swedish culture and and explore the Swedish culture and gastronomy! gastronomy!

Peter Kvarnström KvarnströmMedia MediaGöteborg Göteborg&Co & Co

FGAG offers you guided walking tours in several languages

Peter Kvarnström Media Göteborg &Co

Peter Kvarnström Media Göteborg & Co

For more information, For more information, visit: www.fgag.se visit: www.fgag.se

To book, please contact: To book, please contact: guidebooking@fgag.se guidebooking@fgag.se

FGAG offers you guided walking tours in severaland languages by authorized guides with extensive knowledge expeby authorized guides with extensive knowledge rience. We tailor make your tour to meet your needsand and experience. We tailor make your tour to meet your needs requirements. Therefore we also offer guided tours by bus, and requirements. Therefore we also offer guided tours by boat and tram. bus, boat and tram.

We are are waiting waiting to We to take take you you along alongand andshow showyou youthe thebest bestof what our town has to offer. of what our town has to offer.

See See you you in Gothenburg!

Anders Wester Media Media Göteborg Göteborg &Co & Co

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Summer Fun

Stockholm’s qualified tourist guides

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They are invaluable to the tourism industry and make sure that the visitor’s time in Stockholm will be filled exactly with what they want.

The tourist guides bring history to life between the two waters of the Baltic Sea and Lake Mälaren. From past to present.

Summer Fun more. The more you learn, the more you realize that there is more learning to do. This dynamic makes the work so fun and stimulating.

We meet people from all over the world and tell them about Stockholm, and just as often we get to hear their stories. For many visitors, the qualified tourist guide is the only local they meet during their visit. A tourist guide in Stockholm can a normal year meet around 3,000 visitors during a season. We have a great responsibility to represent our city in a correct and interesting way.

– We want the visitors to go home and tell their friends that they should go to Stockholm! says Karin Olsson Trollmo.

COLLABORATION IN THE CITY, NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY

FSAG has been working closely in cooperation with most visitor destinations for a long time, sharing and exchanging experiences in order to be able to adjust and do better. The association also cooperates with the administrations in the City of Stockholm, who work with marketing of the city as well as with the city´s service to visitors. FSAG also network with other cities in Sweden to lift up and strengthen the tourist guide´s role. FSAG is run on a voluntary basis and also participates in important international cooperation’s through its membership of the World Federation of Tourist Guides Association (WFTGA).

Mario Delgado, one of the qualified tourist guides in Stockholm. Photo: Lieselotte van der Meijs

M

any visitors in Stockholm know exactly what they want to see, others want a guide to help them see and experience the most interesting and important

things.

– We tailor all programs to every visitor’s needs and wants, Karin Olsson Trollmo explains.

She is the spokesperson for the nearly 400 qualified tourist guides in FSAG (Föreningen Stockholms Auktoriserade Guider). The association has more members than ever, as well as guides in more languages than ever. There are 31 languages including sign language.

– When you work as a tourist guide, you must have finely-tuned intuition in order to optimize the visit to Stockholm. It is easy to guide a person who knows exactly what they want to see. For others, however, you have to discuss with the participants and suggest alternatives.

A guide needs to understand where the visitor comes from and what special interests they have, explains Karin.

Visitors who stay for several days can choose to spend their first day with a tourist guide and then go on and do things on their own. It is a good way for them to be sure that

they do not miss the most important things to see and to learn how to get around. It is easy to walk around in Stockholm – there is very good public transportation and one can travel by ferry as well. The tourist guides in Stockholm organized and formed FSAG in 1953, in connection with Stockholm’s 700th anniversary. They are invaluable to the tourism industry and make sure that the visitor’s time in Stockholm will be filled exactly with what they want.

BOOK A GUIDE

On FSAG’s website all members introduce themselves. One can contact a specific guide or fill in a booking form with all requests, and then choose a guide.

Welcome to see and experience Stockholm with a qualified tourist guide!

Text: Caroline Knutsson-Hall

STOCKHOLM CITY CERTIFIES

Today the majority of qualified tourist guides in Stockholm are entrepreneurs. They have completed special training and thereafter certified by the City of Stockholm.. The assignments can be everything from taking care of cruise visitors in ready-made programs, to families or smaller parties who want a professional guide to help them get around. A qualified tourist guide in Stockholm has a solid knowledge of Stockholm, historically and current; culture, environment and the city’s role in Sweden, and in the world and they know all the various attractions in the city. Thanks to FSAG, it is easy for members to do continuing education and share experiences with each other.

WE LOVE OUR JOB!

– Those of us that work with this love our job and especially that we constantly are able to continually update our knowledge and learn

FSAG spokesperson Karin Olsson Trollmo.

Photo: Lieselotte van der Meijs MAGAZINE SWEDEN

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Experiences

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Experiences

The Museum of Evolution

In The Museum of Evolution palaeontology, you’ll find the most significant collection of real dinosaur skeletons together with skeletons of prehistoric fish-lizards and swan-lizards. On the zoology department you move between all the continents of the world, from the polar areas to the tropics. Amongst the museums 5000 animals, you’ll meet the proboscis monkey, giant anteaters, the African penguin, mooses, giant salamanders and the Tasmanian devil. The animals have been collected from the late 17th century until today, and the number keeps growing.

M

ats Eriksson is the director of The Museum of Evolution, a part of Uppsala University. To work with exhibitions this old, in many cases up to four hundred years old, is an extraordinary feeling.

-We have a vast collection, some of our items has been in our ownership since the 1600s, says Mats. It’s an exciting feeling to poke around in it and wonder who did the same hundreds of years ago.

One thing that always fascinates is dinosaur skeletons, and you have quite a few?

-Yes, in the palaeontology part of the museum we have a lot of fossils and dinosaurs, which is super exciting. What set us apart from many dinosaur museums is that we have real skeletons, fossils and many other things. But they are all real. They might not be as spectacular as their plastic counterpart that you can find on other museums, but they are real, Mats continues.

- When you find something during an excavation is it seldom a whole skeleton. Usually it’s smaller parts. But we have a magnificent skeleton of a Long Neck, or as it’s called, Euhelopus.

It’s actually parts from two different animals, and we are working on restoring it to its original glory. We are unbelievably proud of this, since it’s the only one in the world. We have approximately 60% of the original animals, and the rest is made from a cast.

How did the skeleton end up at your museum?

– Most of what we have in our palaeontology collection comes from China. An explorer from Uppsala that was in China during the 1920s together with local scientists. During that time, you didn’t have an organisation to take care of fossils. But there was an agreement between Uppsala and the Chinese equivalent institute when you were doing a cooperative dig. The finds were sent to Uppsala to get analysed, and all duplicates were sent back to China. It was a rare agreement for the time, and most other countries who had exhibitions to China just took everything they could find. Uppsala was the only institution who had a deal with China.

That’s something they remembers to this day and are thankful for. We have had visits where they tell us that they remember the cooperation with fondness, on multiple occasions.

emphasise that. You feel at home here, which many of our visitors often says.

This has to be a real treasure, especially for school classes.

– Yes, it is! We have several visits from schools, which we think is great . They come here and get guided tours through our collections and exhibits. It’s usually very appreciated. A lot happens here at the Evolution Museum, Mats Eriksson concludes.

Text: Tony Manieri Photo: The Museum of Evolution

Except for palaeontology, what can your visitors expect to find?

– Our zoology department, it’s pretty newly opened, we have put a lot of effort to update our collections and everything we display.

We only have stuffed animals in the zoology department, so it’s similar to the old type of museum from the past. It’s a different feeling when you can study an animal closely, that you will assumedly never see in the wild. We have so many animals and fossils on both departments that you can barely see all of them in a single visit, says Mats Eriksson. Amongst our collection of animals, we basically have all the Swedish animals, which is a great joy for both scientists and visitors. There’s a unique feeling of familiarity and cosiness to visit us. I want to

Mats Eriksson, director at the Museum of Evolution.

As of this moment, right now the museum is temporarily closed from March 31 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Check the website for up to date information.

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Experiences

Stockholm Toy Museum

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Experiences Located in the middle of Stockholm in Skeppsholmen is The Toy Museum. The museum is situated within secret military premises, built during World War II to ensure that no enemies could discover what’s going on. Excitingly it is almost an impossibility to discover the fantastic toy museum within, if you do not know where the exact entrance is. Inside is an exciting underground maze filled with cheerful coloured walls and stuffed with over 40,000 toys and comic books that attract visitors all year-round.

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tockholm Toy Museum holds a private collection of toys and comics, owned by David von Schinkel. Together with his father they have collected toys for over 60 years. For many years the collection was housed at Tidö Castle outside Västerås, however, since autumn 2017 they have been on show in Skeppsholmen.

- The bunk room, a large military shelter, built during the 1940s as a iason centre for the Navy. In the 1960s, the military moved out to Muskö, and since then the premises have been left more or less empty. The East Asian Museum and The World Culture Museum used the premises for temporary exhibitions, but we are the first permanent tenants, says Kajsa Logan-Müller, designer at Stockholm Toy Museum.

- About 40 craftsmen and artists built this environment together, and the result is really amazing. Today it is almost possible to forget that this was once a military premises.

- The showroom is a very playful place. The space is magical, somewhere that everyone can experience something fun and exciting to, no matter your age. The oldest toys in the collection are dated from the 15th century, the collection then extends through the centuries until the present day.

It is absolutely amazing that you can make a colorful toy show in old underground military rooms.

- It sure is! It doesn’t feel at all claustrophobic being underground, with its high roof and easy access to all the space. Whist at the same time feeling like you are in a secret location - almost like being in a spy movie! The raw stone walls

provide an excellent contrast to all the colorful toys and other collection items, making the experience even more enjoyable. In some places, traces of the old business are visible. There are some foundations from working with torpedoes during the war that have been left in the walls, we use them to support some of our booths, the effect is very popular.

What fun stuff do you have planned for the Spring?

- Our exhibition on horses is going to be extended due to its popularity. It is quite great focus on cane horses, and a while ago we had a cane horse parade outside the museum, and that became a great success . People visited from everywhere it ended being a real party atmosphere. It was such fun that we plan to run it again both in the Winter and the Easter holidays.

- In addition, there will be a special exhibition of motorcycles and our vehicle toys. We have been given an amazing opportunity, the chance to showcase a brand new electric Harley-Davidson. In the same category we are showing Grandma Duck’s car, which was also electric!

- We have some exciting news we will be participating in and arranging the Nordic Championships in jojo, which we look forward to the huge. Together with a skier ranked in the top ten of the world, we are building a big trail as a one of event with everything concerned with jojo. There will be competitions, shows and courses for the curious.

- Not forgetting a whole host of other fun events to come in the spring, we never stop playing here at The Stockholm Toy Museum!

Kajsa Logan-Müller colcludes.

Text: Tony Manieri Photo: Stockholm Toy Museum

The German carousel horses are fixed in the exhibition, and are played with both large and small.

Photo: Lena Mannerfelt / Stockholm Toy Museum

At the toy museum with grandma. Photo: Sara Sinclair at the Bergrummet - Tidö Collection of Toys and Comics

BERGRUMMET was created in the early 1940s to accommodate the commander and his staff during wartime. It consists of eight tunnels linked with transverse ships and various aisles. The plant has a total area of 4,800 square meters. In the 1990s, all the furnishings were demolished. The stone room was created at the beginning of 2010 as a space for special exhibitions, including The East Asian Museum and The World Culture Museum. The storage room is owned by the National Property Board of Sweden and rent the space to The Tidö collection of toys and comics, under the name of The Stockholm Toy Museum. Until 2017, The Stockholm Toy Museum was located at Tidö castle outside Västerås under the name Tidö toy and comics. It was inaugurated in 1974 as The Toy Museum. In 2017 the collection was moved to its current premises in Stockholm, here it is housed within a 2,500 square meter area, which is just over half of its Skeppsholmen’s mountain rooms. At the same time, the museum at Tidö Castle was closed. The museum was built by The Museum Director and owner David Von Schinkel along with scenographer Caroline Romare. The collections comprise of around 40,000 toys dating from the 17th century onwards. Thus making the museum the largest collection of toys in Northern Europe. The exhibition is sorted by theme. On the ‘infostations’ - some 60 monitors, the exhibits are explained not only in Swedish, but in English, Finnish, Turkish, German and Chinese. The museum has its own café and small shop.

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Foto: Fredrik Schenholm

Wonderful Ramsvik

Experiences The New York Times has created a list of “52 places to go in 2020”. Western Sweden is one of the world’s most exciting destinations to visit in 2020. A place of particular interest is Ramsvik Stugby & Camping, here there is a clear focus on sustainability and they have made a great investment in becoming self-sufficient using solar energy.

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amsvikslandet’s nature reserve has fantastic views and surrounding scenery of red smooth granite cliffs, mixed here with other, younger rocks.

It is sometimes called the ’Kingdom of Cliffs’, which is very easy to understand. The hiking trails on Ramsvik are suitable for long day hikes or shorter walks and are perfect for those who want to experience the archipelago during a week or a weekend’s visit. The hike/walk starts from the cottage village parking and there are several trails along with shorter hikes. The shortest being 1.5 km distance, the longest 15 km.

Some of the hiking trails follow easy footpaths and trails. Some hiking trails require climbing and detours around ravines with stunning natural beauty. There are well-marked hiking trails along with those that require use of a map.

– What is absolutely the uniquest about Ramsvik is the surrounding nature, says Annika Johansson of Ramsvik Stugby & Camping. The holiday village and campsite are in the centre of a nature reserve, which is of course, unique and something that both we and our guests value highly. The landscape around us is of a kind that one does not find in many places around the world. Not least as The New York Times shows their interest by sending a reporter here to experience our unique atmosphere and nature for themselves.

How did a reporter from The New York Times find his way to you?

Photo: Fredrik Schenholm

– He participated in the large natural tourism congress ATWS (Adventure Travel World Summit) in Gothenburg last year, arriving later in Rams-

vik and he was just taken with the place. For us here in Sweden it may not be such a unique experience, but if you compare the nature we have here with many other places from around the world, we stand out – not least regarding our focus on sustainability when it comes to natural tourism. His visit happened to coincide with investing in our own solar cell plant, which contributed to his interest. This is actually the largest in Sweden, and we are now self-sufficient in electricity throughout the year.

You invest a lot in family activities on Ramsvik - not least the crab fishing!

- Yes, it is very important that our activities appeal to all. Therefore we offer other outdoor activities not just hiking and fishing. We make sure we cater to every visitor, not just the most experienced by making them accessible to everyone – not least kids!

– Of course, the crab fishing down at the pier is one of the real highlights for kids. The crabs travel up and down from the water everyday and it’s exciting every time! It doesn’t seem to matter what the weather is like – crab fishing is exciting anyway!

– We then introduced a fun app, which allows you to go exploring in the wild whilst also learning something new. The app is a game for all the family called ”Ramsvik Challenge”. With the help of a mobile phone, you look for various stations situated in the natural surroundings and when you arrive at one the app will automatically raise questions or provide questions for you to solve. The app is both fun and educational!

the lunch bags we provide for you to take on your hikes. We aim to give visitors a family experience in a unique archipelago environment!

– All seafood served is MSC-labeled and has been caught in our waters, between Sweden and Denmark. The MSC marking stands for sustainable fishing, where you fish using the right size mesh in the net, this ensures the younger ones are left to grow and reproduce. We are careful to make sure that all meat and vegetables come from local suppliers who think about both quality and durability.

– All in all, we can promise that a visit to Ramsvik will be a wonderful experience in nature and create wonderful memories for life, concludes Annika Johansson.

Text: Tony Manieri

FOOD ALSO VERY IMPORTANT – For us it is the food we serve is very important to us, this applies both in the restaurant and in

Crab fishing is one of the great experiences.

Photo: Mikael Pihlstrand

New York Times’ ”52 places to go 2020” I den färska undersökningen lägger tidningen stort fokus på städer och platser i världen som har hållbarhet och klimatsmartness högt på agendan.

1. Washington DC, USA 2. British Virgin Islands 3. Rurrenabaque, Bolivia 4. Greenland 5. Kimberley Region, Australien 6. Paso Robles, California, USA 7. Siciliy 8. Salzburg, Austria ...

16. Western Sweden

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Historical

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Historical

Historical surroundings Sigtuna offers fantastic experiences, both in nature and culture. And here you can really talk about culture with quality! This year more Swedes than ever will stay at home on holiday and there are more reasons than ever to stop and discover what is in the immediate area. Sigtuna offers a lot all year round and you can be sure of the return of foreign tourism as tourism begins to recover.

Staycation in Sigtuna

S

igtuna offers a variety of interesting experiences.

Pack your own lunch bag or put gold on the excursion and buy food from any of the city’s all hotels, restaurants and cafes. In the town, Drakegården’s fine garden is very accessible. as well as all of Sigtuna’s fantastic promenade. Any brave person can buy food from any of Sigtuna’s cafes and visit the Death Skull cliff at Västerängsudd’s nature reserve. There you are usually alone with the fantastic view of Lake Mälaren. Or why not bring your neighbors or friends and take a guided city tour to get to know the city and its history better. The guide from the Sigtuna Museum tells about Sigtuna from its founding in the 970s to modern times.

Here are some tips for those who want a vacation on their own, with the family, with a loved one or friends from near and far.

HIKE THE INGEGERD TRAIL Did you know that Ingegerd, Sweden’s first female saint, was born in Sigtuna? Follow in her footsteps and hike the Ingegerd trail that winds its way through beautiful forests, across fields and past castles. The Ingegerd trail extends all the way from the Storkyrkan in Stockholm, via the Mariakyrkan in Sigtuna, to Uppala Cathedral.

Put gold edge on the hike and combine with a good dinner and an overnight stay in Sigtuna.

This summer, you expect more Swedish visitors than ever?

- We absolutely do! says Anna Lakmaker, CEO of Destination Sigtuna. You don’t have to go far to experience amazing things. We have a wide range of outdoor activities to offer and look forward to everyone in our immediate area taking advantage of the opportunities for great experiences.

- Sigtuna has a lot of places that are culturally interesting, such as the old church ruins that all have a story to tell. Here you can really stop and feel the wings of history.

- You can also take a trip to one of the beautiful nature reserves; on foot, by bicycle or perhaps from the horseback. Here are many nice places to stop for a cozy picnic in the green.

The walkway in Sigtuna town, the green areas and the castle parks are examples of excursion destinations that are very popular!

- You can play golf, swim, go on a guided

The old town center and Skokloster attract many visitors to Sigtuna.how she learned to embrace the frozen north.

tour or go shopping. In addition, we have our fantastic castles, which are really worth a visit.

STAY OVERNIGHT

- There is so much to see and experience in Sigtuna that you can’t do it in a single day.

Therefore, it is good that many of our hotels have good deals for overnight stays.

- In other words, it is equally good to book at least one hotel night so as not to miss out on any of what Sigtuna has to offer, concludes Anna Lakmaker.

Text: Tony Manieri Photo: Destination Sigtuna

TEN BEAUTIFUL NATURE AREAS Sigtuna Municipality works actively to promote both biodiversity and experiential diversity and there are no less than ten beautiful nature reserves to explore all year round. Meet the cows in Steningedalen, see centuries-old pine in the Sköndalsskogen, hike part of the Uppland Trail through Rävsta Nature Reserve the list of easily accessible nature experiences can be made as long as possible.

ARE YOU A FISHERMAN? There is free fishing with hand gear in Lake Mälaren.

There are nice walkways along Garnsviken and also along the water at the marina and away towards Sjudargårdsbadet. Just to explore!

ON TWO WHEELS Sigtuna offers a large selection of fine cycle paths.

FIVE CASTLE AND ITS PARKS In the area around Sigtuna there are five castles to discover: Skokloster, Skånelaholm, Steninge castle with Steninge Castle village, Wenngarn and Rosersberg, which is one of the kingdom’s ten royal castles. The castles all have a unique historical atmosphere, which makes them a treasured excursion destination for both history lovers and those who want to experience a beautiful day in the beautiful landscape.

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Experiences

The history of Stockholm Stockholm is located at the junction of Lake Mälar (Mälaren) and Salt Bay (Saltsjön), an arm of the Baltic Sea, opposite the Gulf of Finland. The city is built upon numerous islands as well as the mainland of Uppland and Södermanland. By virtue of its location, Stockholm is regarded as one of the most beautiful capital cities in the world.

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tockholm was first mentioned as a town in 1252 and was largely built by the Swedish ruler Birger Jarl. It grew rapidly as a result of a trade agreement made with the German city of Lübeck.

This agreement ensured Lübeck merchants freedom from customs charges for their trade in Sweden, as well as the

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right to settle there. The city came to be officially regarded as the Swedish capital in 1436.

After conflicts between the Danes and Swedes for many years, Stockholm was liberated from Danish rule by Gustav I Vasa in 1523.

Stockholm developed rapidly in the mid17th century as Sweden temporarily became a great power. The central government departments were then placed there, and the city became an independent administrative unit. The old city walls were torn down, and

new districts grew up north and south of the “city between the bridges.” In the 18th century, fires destroyed large parts of the city, and stone buildings were constructed to replace the old wooden houses. Stockholm had by then become the cultural centre of Sweden; many of its literary societies and scientific academies date from this time. A new period of development began with industrialization in the 19th century, and the introduction of municipally organized cleaning (1859) and sanitation (1861)

Experiences

contributed to a rapid increase in population.

During this time redevelopment took place in the medieval city nucleus, buildings were reconstructed, boulevards, avenues, and parks were laid out, and many of the city’s present-day schools, museums, libraries, and hospitals were built. Many suburbs and satellite towns have subsequently developed.

The original nucleus of the city is the “city between the bridges”—Gamla Stan (Old Town), consisting of Stads Island, Helgeands

Island, and Riddar Island. The buildings in this area are mainly from the 16th and 17th centuries. This well-preserved city nucleus, with the original network of streets and many of its buildings dating from the Middle Ages, is legally protected from change. Stads Island contains the Royal Palace; Storkyrkan, also called the Cathedral, or Church, of St. Nicolas; the German Church; the House of Lords; the government offices; the Stock Exchange; and a number of

other notable buildings. Riddar Island is dominated by the Riddarholm Church. The House of Parliament and the National Bank are on Helgeands Island.

– Oh, that’s hard to choose! Of course I am always excited to see all our guests and observetheir bliss of skiing on our slopes and enjoy our beautiful community spirit.

MORE ON STOCKHOLM ON THE NEXT SPREAD

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Experiences

Stockholm is a city of islands

T

hese islands are connected by old bridges and modern overpasses to city districts occupying the mainland of Uppland to the north and that of Södermanland to the south.

The chief northern districts are Norrmalm, Vasastaden, Östermalm, Kungsholmen, and Stadshagen. Of these, Norrmalm is a modern shopping, business, and financial centre, while Kungsholmen has the City Hall and other municipal buildings. East of Gamla Stan lies the island of Djurgården, a cultural-recreational area that has several museums, including the Vasa Museum, which houses a salvaged Swedish warship dating from 1628.

Stockholm is Sweden’s leading industrial area. Its major industries include metal and ma-

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chine manufacturing, paper and printing, foodstuffs, and chemicals. It is also the country’s chief wholesale and retail centre and serves as the headquarters of many banks and insurance companies. Stockholm is also the second largest port in Sweden (Göteborg being the first). The national government’s many offices are a major employer in the city, as are various educational, scientific, and cultural institutions.

Stockholm is the chief educational centre in Sweden and is home to Stockholm University (1877), the Royal Institute of Technology (1827), and the Caroline Medical Institute. The city’s leading cultural institutions include the Royal Theatre (the opera), the Concert Association (Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra), and the Royal Dramatic Theatre.

Text: Editorial Photo: Adobe Stock

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Museums & Art Galleries

Exciting experiences!

ABBA The Museum

The Abba Museum is a permanent exhibition about the Swedish music sensation Abba. It is located in the district of Konsthallen in Djurgården.

The exhibition depicts many of the places and environments associated with the group, along with many original items from the group’s career.

Interactive features allow visitors to truly take part, there is the possibility to perform in the group on stage, sing in the recording studio and enter quizzes.

Djurgårdsvägen 68, Stockholm www.abbathemuseum.se Monogram by Robert Rauschenberg. Picture: Moderna Museet. © Robert Rauschenberg / Untitled Press Inc.

The Modern Museum

Welcome to one of the world’s leading museums of modern and contemporary art! See paintings, sculptures and photography by artists like Bourgeois, Dalí, Hjertén, Matisse, Picasso, Sherman, Warhol and many others. The Moderna Museet has one of the world’s foremost collections of modern and contemporary art dating from the beginning of the twentieth century through to today. In addition to the collection there are also temporary exhibitions. Since 12th May you can now see the celebrated Monogram by Robert Rauschenberg, which is back in the museum after a two-year world tour.

Exercisplan 2, Stockholm www.modernamuseet.se

Modern Photography Fotografiska is one of the world’s largest venues showing modern photography, it features four unique major exhibitions and around 20 smaller exhibitions each year.

Currently on show is Evelyn Bencicova, whose work often consist of eerie compositions where models are placed in mysterious environments surrounded by distinctive cold colours.

Stadsgårdshamnen 22, Stockholm www.fotografiska.com

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Chocolate in Malmö

For those who love chocolate, a visit to the chocolate factory’s museum in Malmö is an absolute must. Dive deep into 120 years of chocolate history with old chocolate moulds, labels and many other curiosities of chocolate making.

Möllevångsgatan 36B, Malmö www.malmochokladfabrik.se

Museums & Art Galleries

Malmö Art Museum is one of Sweden’s largest art museum and has both permanent and temporary exhibitions. The collection comprises of mainly Nordic but also European art, handicrafts and artistic objects from the 16th century up until modern day. The collection of Nordic art is constantly updated so you can always see something new.

Malmöhusvägen 6, Malmö www.malmo.se/konstmuseum

Photo: Maria Klang

Malmö Art Museum

The Sami Culture

Here you can learn about Swedish culture and the nature of the high mountains. Ajtte is the main museum presenting the Sami culture in Sweden. It also serves as an information center for mountain tourists.

The current exhibitions at the museum consist of Getting By, Life of the Settlers, Costume and Silver, Laponia, Drum Time, On the Move and The River.

Kyrkogatan 3, Jokkmokk www.ajtte.com

Aeroseum This aviation museum is housed in a former secret defense facility. Aeroseum is a museum with an ambition to fully present the development of the aviation industry, both civilian and military as well as national and international. Find out everything from the days of Ikarus through to modern day space travel.

Holmvägen 100, Gothenburg www.aeroseum.se

Guitars –The Museum

See a one of a kind guitar collection dating from the 1950’s through to today. You can even join a guided tour that will teach more about the finest guitar collection the world has ever seen. The stories are many and truly captivating. A must for all music geeks.

Vasagatan 18-20, Umeå www.guitarsthemuseum.com

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Sights BLACK MOUNTAIN FACTS

Situated in Hägghult, 20 km east of Osby in the north of Skåne.

Started in 1994 and today has ca 200 members.

Black Mountains has ca 8000 visitors during high season and many more during the rest of the year.

Booking of guided tours is made at the Black Mountains restaurant or through the web site.

Rafts and tents can be rented and fishing gear is on sale in the restaurant.

OPENING HOURS

May and September: Thursdays and Fridays 11 - 15 Saturdays and Sundays 11 - 17 July and August: Tuesdays to Sundays 11 - 17 Telephone +46 479-21520 both for Svarta Bergen and Hjärtsasjön cabins.

The mesmerizing magic of the Black Mountains Take a guided tour through the magnificent landscape, ride the raft between beautiful mountain walls, take a snack or just watch the view.

The Black Mountain non-profit association works to ensure that the unique environment of the old diabase quarry outside Lönsboda in northeastern Skåne is taken care of and being preserved.

Text: Editorial Photo: Black Mountains

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Sights

Amazing views and quaint lodgings in and around the Black Mountains.

T

he diabase from Lönsboda is unique in its kind.

For more than a hundred years, the diabase has played a major role in the history of the countryside, and the black slide from Hägghult, just outside Lönsboda, has a good reputation internationally thanks to its recognized high quality. The nonprofit association Svarta Bergen takes care of the environment surrounding the old quarry that was laid down in 1989 and offers visitors guided tours, a magnificent view and a chance to unwind in a unique environment.

– I am very biased at the moment, but it is a wonderful environment for walking and staying

in. It’s something completely unassuming, says Mari Arvidsson, restaurant and booking manager.

– Some guests saw the sign down the road, drove here and exclaimed: “Wow, where have we landed somewhere?” It ended with that they ate lunch and lay on the rocks all day long.

They said they would not leave from here.

It describes this place quite well I think. It’s something magical with the stones, something very special, she continues.

The rock eruption is still on going in a new quarry in the immediate vicinity. There is also the opportunity to enjoy the view in peace and quiet and visitors are offered the opportunity to go for a nice trip down the old quarry.

– You see the area from another view and you understand the greatness in a new way. It’s

magical to see the quarry from that point of view, “says Mari Arvidsson.

GUIDED TOURS

All old pictures, movies and, not least, the guided tours at the quarry create a link between past and present. There is a lot of artwork in the area that tells the story of Diabas and shows what it can be used for.

– Just to come and enjoy the view and buy a glass of coffee, you do not have to pay an entrance fee.

But I also really recommend a trip with one of our good guides - or with our new raft. The story behind this site is fantastic and uniquely preserved, says Mari Arvidsson.

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