Page 239 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sweden

WESTERN SVEALAND  237

2 Arvika
Värmland. Road 61. * 26,000.
£ @ ~ g n Storgatan 22,
0570-817 90. _ Gammelvala (late
Jul), Arvika Hamnfest (early Aug).
∑ visitarvika.se
The people of Värmland are
known for their wit and ability
to tell funny stories, particularly
in Jösse, where Arvika is the
main town. It is situated on a
hill above the bay of Kyrkviken,
which is linked to the lake of A 1903 Humber in Arvika Fordonsmuseum
Glafs fjorden by a narrow strait.
Arvika Fordonsmuseum, E Arvika Fordonsmuseum church make Borgvik one
centrally located next to the Thermiavägen 2. Tel 0570-803 90. of the leading monuments
fire station, has an exciting Open daily. Group bookings: by to a bygone industrial age in
collection of veteran vehicles, appoint ment. & 8 - = 7 Värmland. Near Västra Smedbyn
including hundreds of cars, E Rackstadmuseet is von Echstedtska Gården.
motorcycles and carriages. Taserud. Tel 0570 809 90. Open May– This impressive 1760s’ Carolian
The area has long been Aug: daily; Sep–Apr: Tue–Sun. manor is known for its murals.
home to craftworkers and Closed some public hols. & - = Even the privy has burlesque
artists, as can be seen in the ∑ rackstadmuseet.se and, to say the least, educa-
Rackstadmuseet in Taserud just P Klässbols Linneväveri tional paintings.
outside the town. This is where Damastvägen 5. 20 km (16 miles)
sculptor Christian Eriksson set S of Arvika. Tel 0570-46 01 85. P von Echstedtska Gården
up his studio, Oppstuhage, Open Oct– Apr: Mon–Fri & Sat; Västra Smedbyn. 20 km (12 miles) NW
in the mid-1890s. For many May–Sep: daily. 8 only pre-booked. of Säffle. Tel 0533-630 74. Open May–
years it was a magnet for - = 7 ∑ klassbols.se Sep. & 8 only pre-booked. - =
artists attracted by the pristine
Värmland countryside, such as
the painter Gustaf Fjaestad, 3 Borgviks Bruk 4 Värmlandsnäs
renowned for his winter scenes. Värmland. 35 km (22 miles) W of Värmland. 5 km (2 miles) S of Säffle.
Klässbols Linneväveri, 20 km Karlstad. Road 45. * 400. @ Borgvik
(12 miles) south of Arvika, is the Byggnadsvård: Tel 0555-740 81. Jutting out into Lake Vänern
Nordic region’s only damask Open Jun–Aug. is a large peninsula noted for
weaving mill and a rewarding its excellent agricultural land
destination for those who The ironworks in Borgvik and the medieval churches of
want to see how the linen operated from 1600 to 1925. Botilsäter and Millesvik.
tablecloths for the Nobel Prize The foundry ruins and works From the southernmost tip
banquets, or fabric for the buildings along with the striking in Ekenäs it is possible to head
Royal Family, are made. manor and 18th-century out to Lurö, Sweden’s largest
inland archipelago. This is the
Selma Lagerlöf ideal spot to enjoy countryside
well off the beaten track. The
In 1909, Selma Lagerlöf (1858–1940) became the first woman to boat trip to the main island of
receive the Nobel prize for literature. And despite the passing of Lurö takes an hour.
a century since she wrote her first masterpiece, interest in the
author’s captivating adventures continues
unabated. Numerous film and TV versions
of her works have been produced,
including The Treasure, Thy Soul Shall Bear
Witness!, The Emperor of Portugallia and
Jerusalem. When she made her debut in
1891 with the imaginative novel Gösta
Berling’s Saga, she put the Värmland
countryside around the Fryken lakes and
the family estate of Mårbacka on the
literary map. Even more remarkable was
the success of The Wonderful Adventures
of Nils. The tale of the tiny boy’s epic
Selma Lagerlöf, sculpture by journey with wild geese was translated
Carl Eldh, Rottneros around the world. Perfect bathing spots along the shore
at Värmlandsnäs
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p288 and pp299–300

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