Grästorp: Churches, Geopark and Nature by the Nossan

In Grästorp, Grästorp Church combines elements of medieval, Neo-Romantic and Art Nouveau architecture. Tengene Church has original parts dating from the early Middle Ages and houses a Romanesque sandstone baptismal font from the 12th century, decorated with figures of the Tree of Life and animals, as well as a lily stone from the same period.

Culture and History

A runestone is built into the northeastern choir wall of Ås Church; its inscription dates from the second half of the 11th century. A church has stood on the site of the present-day Flo Church since the Middle Ages; its churchyard also contains a runestone and a memorial stone. A runestone from the 11th century stands outside the southern churchyard wall of Sal Church, and another stands in the churchyard of Särestad Bjärby Church.

Fridhem Church has a bell from the mid-14th century, a large bell from 1772 and a baptismal font made of two sandstone bowls from the 12th century. The site of Hyringa Old Church may already have been a pre-Christian cult and burial site before the church was built. The historic site lies on a prominent mountain and gravel ridge, offering views over the surrounding landscape.

Holkkvarnen was moved in the 1920s by the Åse och Viste Hembygdsförening local heritage association from Bransölet in Särestad to Marknadsberget and restored in 1950. It is one of the few mills located outside Skansen today.

Museums and Art

Särestad Rural Museum contains more than 3,000 objects and tools. It showcases historic rural household practices such as dairy processing, baking, slaughtering and handicrafts. The collection includes an 18th-century sheep hut, considered to be the only one of its kind in Sweden.

Platåbergens Geopark became Sweden’s first UNESCO Global Geopark in 2022. It explains the connections between geology, biology and cultural history. At Lilla Konstgården, visitors can visit Kristiina’s open studio, where works by her and other Swedish artists are displayed. A short art walk leads through the surrounding forest.

Grästorp Cultural Centre offers a café, a library and free cultural evenings with talks, exhibitions and concerts. Grästorps Konserthus offers cinema, theatre and concerts.

Nature by the Water

Forshall Nature Park offers accessible, beautiful nature along the Nossan River. Dättern is a shallow, nutrient-rich bay connected to Lake Vänern and Brandsfjorden via the Frugårdssund canals. The area is important for migrating and breeding birds; the Dättern Nature Reserve has a birdwatching tower at Sjöryd.

Trails and Activities

Forshallspromenaden is an approximately four-kilometre section of the Västgötaleden trail that follows the Nossan towards Forshall. Tengenepromenaden is an approximately 3.3-kilometre walking trail along the eastern bank of the Nossan. The two trails therefore differ in length and in their described location along the river.

For golf, Ekarnas GK offers beginner courses leading to the Swedish Green Card, or Gröna Kort, qualification. Lunnevibadet has pools for swimming and playing.

For the wider travel overview: Västra Götaland.

More Destinations

More places within the same destination:

Bengtsfors, Sunnersberg, Alingsås, Vårgårda, Öckerö, Lysekil, Uddevalla.