Local history and culture Sweden

This village is a symbol of the history of industry and commerce in the country. A kitschy experience for some, exciting for others, the village consists of houses made entirely by hand in the Viking way. Torch, straw and wood. Dressed in period costumes, the inhabitants are busy in the shipyard, carving the bow of the last drakkar, or weaving leather shoes, tanning skins and sharpening arrows. Children can dress up.

These red huts with white windows and sills are unique. They were built to allow parishioners who lived far away to come and attend church services and therefore to stay for a few days. Even today this tradition is respected and the owners cannot live here all year round! At number 253, located at Framlänningsvägen, the cottage Kyrkstuga is open during the summer months. Built around 1750, it reflects the constructions made by the bourgeoisie at that time.

This is a little known site, but it has the largest concentration of rock engravings in Northern Europe, made between 4000 and 1500 BC. The tribes and groups of hunters and fishermen who populated this valley have left thousands of frescoes, drawings and symbols on the rocks. Characters, elks, footprints, tapered boats... These works can be seen every day from June 15 to August 15, when the water level drops due to the action of dams.

The walled village of Västergarn, 5 km south of Tofta Strand, was a major trading center in Viking times. The history is clearly expressed in the town walls, the medieval church and the ruins of the old church and castle. It is believed that the city wall was built around the year 1000 and that it originally surrounded Västergarn completely. Today it is about 1 km long. There is no similar site on Gotland, and in Sweden the most comparable site is probably the walled city of Birka.

Behind the cathedral is a very old Viking burial stone dating back to the year 1000. Found in the east chapel, it has a rune text engraved in the shape of a snake. The translation can be found on a nearby descriptive panel: "Stone erected by Tyke the Viking in memory of Gunnar, son of Grim. May God protect his soul".

The runic alphabet is also detailed: the opportunity to write your first name with the letters of the ancient Scandinavian peoples.

The church city of Arvidsjaur is extremely well preserved. These pyramid-shaped Lappish tents were never permanently inhabited by the Sami, but were used as overnight accommodation during religious retreats. The buildings are still owned by the Sami people today. It is the largest preserved Saami village, with many outbuildings and barns dating from the ^18th century. Not to be missed if you pass by Arvidsjaur!

Tom and Lotta Svensson are reindeer herders. They will show you how to herd the herd, help you get acquainted with the bear huts and talk about shamanism over a good fire and coffee. An interesting, enriching and authentic way to immerse yourself in the local culture. Several tours are available, ask the establishment directly. In the summer, it is possible to spend one or more nights in a kåta, a traditional shelter. All this in a relaxing natural setting.

Twenty kilometers south-east of Västervik (round trip), this village of red and yellow houses built on the waterfront is one of the prettiest in Sweden, so you should not miss it! When the sun goes down, the light is superb... The amateurs of photography will leave fulfilled! Small more: this small village forms a triangle with the fishing villages of Nävelsö and Marsö, which are thus also to be visited if one is in search of picturesque!