Kulturista - Cultural Experiences in West Sweden

C U LT U R E E X P E R I E N C E S I N W E S T S W E D E N 36 History abounds in the rich cultural landscape in and around Kinnekulle, making it the perfect place for hikes with that little something extra. Let the picturesque and sometimes hilly Kinnekulle Hiking Trail take you on a trip deep into Sweden’s fascinating natural and cultural heritage; a journey on foot that takes in both elegant manor houses and ancient rock carvings along the way. CULTURAL-HERITAGE HIKES IN WEST SWEDEN Located just below the summit of the more than 300-metre-high plateau, the Kinnekullegården restaurant is a great starting point for hiking at Kinnekulle. If you start out by heading north, the first leg of your hike will take you on a bona fide woodland trek among the tall trunks of an enchanting spruce forest. After arri- ving at the foot of the plateau, you will pass by the shores of Lake Vänern. Then head back in the direction of the plateau again, stopping along the way to take in the Hellekis Säteri manor, with a history dating back to the Middle Ages. The estate’s garden, café and res- taurant is a popular stop for hungry hikers. F L O W E R S A N D L I M E S T O N E Next, the trail will take you past the old limestone quarry, which reveals the plateau’s many shifting colours. Just beyond lies the Munkängarna Nature Reserve, which offers visitors the chance to step into an almost fairy-tale-like environment, especially during the early summer when the ramsons blossom and their white, fragrant flowers decorate the forest floor. The trail then continues southward, past the Råbäck harbour and the remains of the rail tracks that were once used to transport down to the port in the late 19th century. There is also a museum down by the harbour that lets you take a step back in time and relive the glory days of the local stonemasonry industry. B R O N Z E - A G E R O C K C A R V I N G S Your trail will next take you across lush meadowland. Just before it turns northward, you will pass by the stone cottage known as Lasses Grotta, where “Lasse of the Mountain” (as its occupant was nicknamed) and his wife, Inga, lived for almost thirty years. A detour from the main trail will take you to the Husaby Kyrka church, built in the 11th century. Sweden’s first Christian king, Olof Skötkonung, is said to have been baptised here. A little T E X T J O H A N T Ö R N R O T H