Åmål on Lake Vänern – Culture, Nature and Trails

In the east of Åmål Municipality, a long coastline stretches along Lake Vänern; the town of Åmål is also located there. It was founded as a town in 1643 and developed into an important trading and shipping town.

The other localities to choose from include Tösse, Åmål, Ånimskog, Edsleskog and Fengersfors.

Culture

Åmåls Blues Fest is one of the most important annual events in Åmål. Gamla Staden is a historic focal point: The old town district survived the great fire of 1901 and preserves the character of an old town with houses from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Gamla Kyrkan was built in 1669 and is now used for music, literature days, art and lectures. Plantaget and the buildings around the park form one of the best-preserved 18th-century environments in Sweden. Åmåls Hembygdsmuseum is located in a harbour warehouse dating from the late 18th century and presents historical settings across three floors.

Vågmästargården was built in 1714 at the inner end of Åmål’s guest harbour. Hantverksmagasinet is a handicraft shop and exhibition hall featuring textiles, woodwork, metalwork, ceramics and jewellery. Snarhögsgården was moved to Örnäspark in Åmål in 1931 and has period-style furnished rooms. It is run by Åmåls Hembygdsmuseum; the museum can be contacted to arrange a visit.

Lectures, exhibitions and reading sessions are held at Åmåls Kulturhus; it also houses a library, an art gallery and Europa Direkt Fyrbodal. Nordiska Litteraturhuset is a literary venue in the extension of Vågmästargården. It is home, among other things, to Bokdagar i Dalsland and Dalslands Litteraturförening; Bokdagar i Dalsland, authors’ evenings and other activities are also planned there.

Nature

Storspåret is a 20-kilometre hiking trail that begins in Hanebol near Åmål and ends in Edsleskog, where it connects with the Pilgrim Trail. The trail is signposted; a bus service connects the route between Edsleskog and Åmål.

Hanebol friluftsområde is suitable for running, walking and picnicking in summer, and for skiing and sledding in winter. The signposted Skogsslingan in Hanebol friluftsområde is a 7.4-kilometre forest trail. Cycling is permitted on three designated sections in Hanebol friluftsområde.

Kungsberget is located in the centre of Åmål and is a viewpoint and park offering views over the town. Hälsans stig is a 3-kilometre signposted walking trail in Åmål. Forsbacka Golfklubb is a parkland and woodland golf course at and around Forsbackasjön in Åmål Municipality.

Water

Tösse Skärgård consists of around 30 wooded islands and offers opportunities for paddling, camping and hiking. In Tösse Skärgård, three preserved crofts dating from the 19th century belong to Åmål Municipality and can be visited by the public.

Åmål’s guest harbour is centrally located in Åmål and has around 35 guest berths. Joytrail offers a 15-kilometre rail-bike ride each way on the Svanskogsbanan, from Forsbackabaden outside Åmål to Svaneholm or Svanskog.

At Tollebols kvarn, guided tours and family activities, including bicycle-tip rounds, are offered in summer; there is also a museum and a summer café. Joytrail rents canoes and paddling equipment for the Dalsland-Nordmarken lake system, which has more than 100 camping sites.

Åmålstravet is one of Sweden’s five 800-metre tracks and operates as a Swedish right-handed track.

To the higher-level travel overview: Västra Götaland.

More destinations

More places in the same destination:

Tranemo, Istorp, Vårgårda.