Floda: Water, Trails and History

In Floda, water, trails and local history offer different reasons to visit. Swimming spots on Lake Sävelången, a hiking trail in the Säveån Valley Nature Reserve and the Ljungleden cycling route give a stay different focuses. There are also places connected to the history of water and industry. If you’re looking for a hotel in Floda, you can first decide whether your trip is mainly about the lake, a walking or cycling excursion, or traces of earlier uses of the area. The following places and trails show how these interests take shape in the town and its surroundings.

Water, swimming spots and trails

A hiking trail about five kilometres long runs through the Säveån Valley Nature Reserve, which you can reach from Floda station. Its approximate length gives a hike a clear framework. The Sjöpromenaden also starts and ends right at Floda station, making it easy to plan as a route with the same start and end point.

The Ljungleden cycling route combines different types of surfaces: it passes through Floda on cycle paths, quiet country roads and gravel roads. Along the route, the landscape changes between farmland, forests and lakes. This makes planning a cycling trip different from a single hiking stage in the nature reserve. If you’re planning to ride the Ljungleden, check the current route status before setting out.

You can reach Floda station by Västtåg or the Alingsås commuter train; it’s a good idea to check the timetable for your travel day. Another hike starts at Jonsered station and ends at Floda station. This lets you choose between a promenade that starts and ends at the same station and a hike with two different stations as its endpoints.

The location of the swimming spots on Lake Sävelången also provides clear orientation. Drängseredsbadet is centrally located in Floda, by the lake. Hyltornas badplats is on the south shore of Lake Sävelången, also in Floda. So both are on the same lake, but in different locations: one in the centre of town and the other on the south shore. You can use this location information to plan your time by the water.

Hydropower and built heritage

In the centre of Floda, the hydropower plant and its associated dam are located where Lake Sävelången narrows in the south and flows into the River Säveån. The hydropower plant was built in 1928. The fish ladder at the plant is Sweden’s first Larinierränna adapted to local conditions. Here, the location at the transition from lake to river meets a distinctive feature of hydropower history.

Garveriet in Floda shows another historic use of the area: it was established in the 1870s as a tannery for sole leather and is a carefully renovated building by the River Säveån. The municipal conservation area Oscarshöjd – Floda stationsområde – Floda säteri broadens the view from a single building to a well-preserved built environment. The tannery, hydropower plant and conservation area therefore offer different perspectives on Floda’s history.

In the area around Floda, a promenade passes Nääs slott, a well-preserved cultural building from the 19th century. This extends the cultural focus beyond Floda’s local history: in Floda, the tannery, hydropower plant and conservation area are among the highlights, while nearby, the promenade passes Nääs slott. Water, trails and architectural history thus provide different starting points for planning your stay around your own interests.

Discover more destinations: Gråbo, Björboholm, Sjövik, Stenkullen, Tollered, Öjersjö, Jonsered, Lerum

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