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First-class experiences in West Sweden

Day 1: Kinnekulle

About Kinnekulle:
Once you have visited Kinnekulle, you will want to return. This plateau mountain on the eastern side of lake Vänern offers a wealth of experiences at any time of year. Back when Carl Linnaeus visited this 306-metre high mountain in the 18th century he praised it and counted Kinnekulle among the most remarkable places in the kingdom. The sights below is only a selection of many experiences on Kinnekulle.

  • Ouroboros sculpture park

The Garden of Possibilities (Möjligheternas Trädgård) & Sculpture Park Ouroboros can be found next to Smedja Therese’s smithy. The garden is divided into rooms, with a lovely mix of apple trees, beech, oak and perennials. The sculptures in the park are changed every year which makes each visit unique. The design of the garden interacts with the artists' work, choice of materials and techniques.

  • Husaby church

Husaby church with its impressive triple spire dating from the 10th century is Sweden’s first bishop’s church and one of the oldest buildings in Sweden today. Nearby the church there is also a big ruin of a medival fort.

A manor with a magnificent garden with exotic trees and flowers. The grand manor has ancient traditions and is mentioned as early as 1746. A part from the manor and the garden there is also a large green house that functions as an art gallery and nearby also a nice restaurant.

The grand quarry (Stora Stenbrottet) on Kinnekulle is a 40-metre-deep former limestone quarry. The lower layers of limestone date back 400 million years, and the hues of the stone layers and the beautiful setting have made the quarry one of the most popular places to visit on Kinnekulle.

This 19-metre-tall tower was built in 1892 on the summit of Kinnekulle (306 m) and the views are truly magnificent. In clear weather you can see 80-90 kilometres across Lake Vänern. In order to give some idea of the scope of the vista you encounter, you are standing at a height above Lake Vänern equivalent to the highest viewing platform of the Eiffel Tower, namely 276 m.

Lunch suggestion: Kinnekullegården or Hellekis kök & trädgårdscafé

 

Day 2: Lidköping

The Old Town Hall is the most iconic building in Lidköping and its unique silhouette has become an important symbol of the town itself. It is originally count Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie´s hunting lodge that was moved and reconstructed to a town hall 1672. It is situated on the town square which is one of the largest in Scandinavia. The square is visited by the citizens of Lidköping above all on Wednesdays and Saturdays when it is market days, a tradition that is now over 300 years old.

Lidköping was home to a factory that produced the porcelain of Rörstrand for almost a century. The old factory is nowadays among other things a museum. Here you can learn all about the history of Swedish porcelain,with thousand of objects and as many human stories behind them.

Lake Vänern is significant for the city of Lidköping, today as well as through history. The museum of Lake Vänern tells the story about the life in and by the lake and you meet both the famous and the more regular citizens aswell as the fish.

Lunch suggestion: Stadshotellet or Feeling LKP

 

Day 3: Kållandsö

A magnificent baroque castle situated in the archipelago of lake Vänern. The castle is dated from the 12th century and has been voted Sweden´s most beautiful castle and is also known for its beautiful garden. A visit to the castle includes a guided tour that is both informative and exciting. A short walk from the castle you also find Naturum – an architectural building containing visitor centre, hotel and restaurant. 

The inspiration to the apperance of the building of Naturum is the reed´s of lake Vänern that also surrounds it. The visitor centre gives you an opportunity to learn a little about the local animal and plant life aswell as the geology and cultural history. While you are here you can eat in the nice restaurant and also stay overnight since it is Sweden´s only Naturum that also contains a hotel.

The fishing village of Spiken is one of Europe´s biggest freshwater harbours. In summer it's bustling with life and tourists. Handicrafts, local delicacies and freshly-smoked fish are just som of the treats on offer. In autumn when the vendace fishing is under way you can join a special guided tour, including the extraction of the roe.

Lunch suggestion: Restaurang Sjöboden

 

Day 4: Skara & Vara

The magnificent Romanesque-Gothic Varnhem church and the monastery ruins are almost a thousand years old, and their history is worth discovering. On a hill beind the church archaeologists have made sensational finds during their excavations, which describe the area from the time before the monks arrived in the 12th century. An information building has been erected at the excavation site, where modern architecture is joined to one thousand year old walls. Walk around the finds and see some of the graves through glass sections in the floor.

Hornborgasjön is one of the most important bird lakes in Europe. Thousands of dancing cranes on the way to their breeding grounds attract visitors to the wetlands of Västergötland between Skövde, Skara and Falköping. There are many observation points and a very interesting exhibition.

Visitors are able to enjoy the artist Göran Löfwing’s paintings in the place of their inspiration and conception, to follow ongoing works and to admire completed works in the art gallery. Here is also a restaurant & café that serves home-made food based on high quality ingredients.

An unique art museum at Skara Konsthotell in West Sweden. The art collection once belonged to the founder of Jula AB, Lars-Göran Blank. His goal, as the collection grew larger and larger, was to exhibit art for the general public. The hotel contains a gallery and you can also find paintings from the collection in the dining area.

In the village of Vara you will find a train station that for sure looks like no other. The Blue Orange, as its called was unveiled in 2012 and is the creation of German artist Katharina Grosse. The Blue Orange has turned the station building in Vara into a visitor magnet. Whether you like the work or not, it’s sure to stick in your memory once you’ve seen it.

Lunch suggestion: Löfwings Ateljé & Krog

 

Day 5: Vänersborg & Trollhättan

At the southwestern tip of Lake Vänern lies the popular plateau mountains of Halleberg and Hunneberg. Along its rocky edges grow oak trees and in the deep gorges wild garlic grows. The mountains have been inhabited for millennia’s and many traces still remain. Halle-Hunneberg make up the only ecopark in western Sweden, which means that the area is preserved because of the unique and biologically valuable forest environments here.

- The Royal Hunt Museum

The Royal Hunt Museum - Elk Hill is situated in the Ecopark Halle-Hunneberg. Here you get to know more about the elk, hillside habitats, captivating cultural history and traditional royal hunts. The exhibition also has useful information about sights and activities in the ecopark to inspire visitors.

- Moose safari

The beautiful waterfalls in Trollhättan are unique and has been the focal point for tourists, artists and innovators since the 18th Century. Today the water does not flow freely as it once did but at specific times during June - August the floodgates open. Then you can watch as 300 000 liters of water per

Lunch suggestion: Nova mat & möten or Ronnum herrgård

 

Accommodation

Castle & mansions
Bjertorp slott (Vara)
Ronnum Herrgård (Vänersborg)
Naturum Vänerskärgården-Victoriahuset (with view over Läckö castle)

Near city hotel
Stadshotellet Lidköping
Skara Stadshotell
Skara Konsthotell
Best Western Plus Edward Hotel (Lidköping)
Scandic Swania (Trollhättan)

Close to nature
Lundsbrunn Resort & Spa
Lumber & Karle (Kvänum)

Last updated on: 22 February 2023