Page 272 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sweden
P. 272
270 SWEDEN AREA B Y AREA
2 Holmöarna
Västerbotten. * 90. @ to
Norrfjärden 30 km (19 miles) N of
Umeå, then ferry. n Umeå Tourist
Office, 09016 16 16. _ Sea Jazz
Festival (2nd weekend in July).
A 45minute free ferry trip from
Norrfjärden leads to the Holmö
archipelago. There are four main
Late afternoon in Umeå city, on the banks of the Ume river islands – Holmön, Grossgrundet,
Angesön and Holmögadd –
1 Umeå (average age 38). The splendid and several smaller ones. The
Bildmuseet, on the Arts majority of the group forms part
Västerbotten. * 110,000. £ @ ~
g from Vasa, Finland. n Renmarks Campus, is a great show case for of Sweden’s largest archipelago
torget 15, 09016 16 16. _ Jazzfestival international contemporary art nature reserve. It is an area of
(4th week in Oct), Film Festival (late and design. exciting geological formations
Nov). ∑ visitumea.se In Gammlia, a 10minute and extensive fields of rubble
walk from the centre, the stones. The forest and shorelines
With 3,000 birch trees lining Västerbottens Museum provide habitats for 130 species
the streets, it is not surprising focuses on the history of Umeå of birds and a variety of flora.
that Umeå is known as “The and Västerbotten. It includes The islands have been
City of Birches”. After a major Svenska Skidmuseet, which inhabited since the 14th
fire in 1888, a new city was covers the history of skiing, century and Holmöns
built with broad, treelined and the fishing and maritime Båtmuseum focuses on the
esplanades and parks to prevent museum Fiske och lives of the local fishermen,
fires spreading. Postfire Sjöfartsmuseet. In the summer, seal hunters and farmers.
buildings of interest include the the openair museum Gammlia The archipelago is ideal for
Scharinska villa on Storgatan, Friluftsmuseum shows off its cycling, bathing and fishing.
designed by Ragnar Östberg, historic farm buildings,
and Moritska Gården, Umeå’s complete with pets, and there E Holmöns Båtmuseum
grandest residence for a local are activities for children. At the ferry quay. Tel 090552 20
timber baron. The city’s Neo (summer). Open midJun–midAug:
Gothic church was completed E Bildmuseet daily. & = ∑ holmons
in 1894. Umeå Arts Campus, Östra Strandgatan batmuseum.se
Umeå dates back to the 30. Tel 090786 74 00. Open Tue–Sun.
16th century. An important Closed Midsummer’s Eve, 24 & 31
trading and administrative Dec. 8 by appt.
centre, it became a county ∑ bildmuseet.umu.se
town in 1622. The opening of E Västerbottens Museum
a university in 1965 prompted Gammlia. Tel 09016 39 00. @
an expansion that transformed Open Tue–Sun (midMay–midAug:
Umeå into a city – Norrland’s daily). Closed 24, 31 Dec. - = 7
only one. With 40,000 students Gammlia Friluftsmuseum:
and lecturers, it is very much Open midMay–midAug: daily. 7
a young persons’ place ∑ vbm.se
Encountering a reindeer on the Blue
Sweden’s 200-Year Peace Highway
Sweden has enjoyed almost 200 years of peace. The last battles on 3 Blå Vägen
Swedish soil took place in Sävar and Ratan north of Umeå in August
1809. Russian troops had been plundering Västerbotten, Lappland. E12.
the coast and a Swedish expeditionary force @ n Renmarkstorget 15, Umeå,
landed at the port of Ratan to attack the 09016 16 16.
Russians from the rear. The troops marched
south towards Sävar and clashed with the From Lake Onega in Russia to
Russians on 19 August. The Swedes were Träna on Norway’s Atlantic
defeated and withdrew to Ratan, where coast, the Blå Vägen (Blue
another battle was fought the next day. This Highway, E12) stretches
time the Swedish troops stood their ground, 1,700 km (1,050 miles). The
but 1,000 men died in the conflict. A memorial Swedish section follows the
in Sävar honours the fallen. As a result of the Umeälven river from Umeå
Infantryman, model, 1807 war, Finland was lost to Russia. through the towns of Lycksele,
Storuman and Hemavan.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p289 and p301
270-271_EW_Sweden.indd 270 11/07/16 11:51 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.1)
Date 5th December 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm
