Page 227 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sweden

WESTERN GÖ T ALAND  225

can enjoy the views from the Kanalmuseet (the Canal
restaurant at Högkullen. Lime- Museum) is located in Sjötorp
stone has been quarried here just north of the town.
since the 12th century. In Those keen on rural life
summer demonstrations at the should head for Klockarbolet
remaining quarry show how the in Odensåker, a reconstructed
work used to be carried out. village dating from the 17th
The area is peppered with and 18th centuries.
ancient Stone Age and Bronze
Age sites. E Vadsbo Museum and
Forshems Kyrka, just to the Mariestads Industri museum
east, dates from the 12th Marieholm. Tel 0501-75 58 30.
century and is known for its Open Wed; other days: by
stone reliefs. The churchyard of appointment. & 8 - 0 = 7
the 12th-century church at E Kanalmuseet
Kinne-Vedum, 2 km (1 mile) Sjötorp, off road Rv 26. Tel 0141-20
north of Götene, has several lily 20 50. Open May–Sep: daily. 8 Karlsborgs Fästning, a 19th-century
stones, typical of this area. wartime hideaway
f Tivedens g Karlsborg
d Mariestad National Park Västergötland. Road 49. * 7,000.
Västergötland. E20. * 15,000. £ @ Västergötland. Road 49. @ from @  n Karlsborgs Tourist Office,
~ Lidköping.  n Kyrkogatan 2, Karlsborg. n Karlsborgs Tourist Storgatan 65, 0505-173 50. Fortress:
0501-75 58 50. _ Göta Canal Swim Office, 0505-173 50. Tel 0505-173 50. Open call for
(late Jul/early Aug). ∑ mariestad.se opening hours. & 8 -
On the border between ∑ karlsborgsturism.se
Duke Karl founded the pretty Närke and Västergötland lies
town of Mariestad in 1583, Tiveden National Park, an In 1819 King Karl XIV Johan
naming it after his wife, Maria untouched area of rugged decided that a fortress should be
of Pfalz. He built the cathedral wilderness. It was established in built at Vanås on the shore of Lake
and lavishly decorated it in the 1983 to protect the remaining Vättern. It was named Karlsborg
Baroque style. It is well worth primeval forest and lakes, of and was to act as an emergency
exploring the interesting little which Fagertärn is the original capital in the event of war; a place
streets surrounding the habitat of the large red water lily of safety for the Royal Family,
cathedral, as these are lined (see p25). the national bank and the
with buildings from the 18th The area is very hilly and government. The 90 years it took
and 19th centuries. demanding for walkers. There to build meant that by the time
In 1660 Mariestad became is a visitor centre at Stenkälla it was finally finished the fortress
the county town of Skaraborg. with information on trails, was out of date and it never had
The former royal manor of parking and things to see inside any real significance. Today,
Marieholm, on an island where the park. however, it is a major tourist
the River Tidan flows into Lake Giant Ice Age boulders, some attraction. The “town” enclosed
Vänern, was the governor’s up to 10 m (33 ft) high, litter within the 5-km (3-mile) long
residence. It now houses the forest around Trollkyrka, walls is best viewed on one of
Vadsmo Museum and the hill east of the road by the the hour-long guided adventure
Mariestads Industrimuseum visitor centre. The mountain’s tours that run daily in the
(Industrial Museum). name is thought to be derived summer. Action fans can watch
Mariestad’s location on Lake from the fact that the site was Fästningsäventyret, an adventure
Vänern and the River Tidan used by local people who came depicting life in the fortress in
makes it an idyllic summer here to worship after the ban the 1860s complete with stunt
town. The Göta Canal (see in 1726 on holding religious men and special effects.
pp150–51) runs through it and services outside churches. Outside the fortress, the
Göta Canal wends its way
towards Lake Vänern, passing
Forsviks Bruk, which offers
an interesting glimpse into
Sweden’s industrial heritage,
with a blacksmith’s forge,
sawmill and working flour mill.
E Forsviks Bruk
8 km (5 miles) north of the centre.
Tel 010-441 43 65. Open Jun–Aug:
Marieholm, the former governor’s residence in Mariestad daily. ∑ forsviksbruk.se
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp287–8 and p299

224-225_EW_Sweden.indd 225 11/07/16 11:50 am