MÃ¥nstad between Cultural Landscapes and Cycle Routes

MÃ¥nstad combines an agricultural cultural landscape with historical traces, lakes and several cycle routes. The cultural environment of MÃ¥nstad is of high scientific value and reflects Iron Age land use as well as the development of south-western Swedish village communities. It includes extensive ancient field systems with strip-divided fields, clearance cairns and rows of stones. The cultural environment also contains scattered burial sites from the Bronze and Iron Ages, a medieval church and well-preserved agricultural buildings.

Culture

The present MÃ¥nstad Church was built towards the end of the 15th century, after a wooden church built there in the 13th century had burned down several centuries later. MÃ¥nstad Church contains a sandstone baptismal font from the 12th century, which returned to the church in 1954. The church stands on a hill beside the paved railway embankment that runs through MÃ¥nstad.

MÃ¥nstad's only rune stone bears an inscription commemorating Grinulf, the son of Ingwald. It stands beside the cycle route on a hill immediately north of MÃ¥nstad Church. The rune stone was found when MÃ¥nstad Bridge was being redesigned towards the end of the 19th century.

Water Landscapes

Sämån, also called Månstadsån on maps, carries the water of Södra Sämsjön through the parishes of Månstad and Södra Åsarp to Tranemosjön. Sämsjön lies between Vegby and Månstad; part of the lake is in Tranemo Municipality and the other part in Ulricehamn Municipality.

There is a public bathing area at Södra Sämsjön in Månstad. Its facilities include green spaces, a long jetty, benches and changing rooms. In Månstad, one of the two lakes offers good opportunities for swimming and fishing.

Cycling

The Ulricehamn–Tranemo stage of the Ätradalsleden runs mostly along a car-free railway embankment. In Månstad, the Ätradalsleden passes through a predominantly open, agricultural landscape with farms. At the Månstad station area along the Ätradalsleden, there is a barbecue shelter where you can take a coffee break.

The Ulricehamn–Tranemo stage of the Sjuhäradsrundan cycle route is 43 km long. The Sjuhäradsrundan passes through the centre of Månstad, which mainly consists of agricultural landscape and farms. There is a shower in the Månstad station area along the Sjuhäradsrundan.

Nature

The Månstad Mini Nature Centre can be reached via an approximately 300-metre-long boardwalk across a marsh. The boardwalk to the Månstad Mini Nature Centre is suitable for wheelchair users, and the Mini Nature Centre offers views of Sämsjön and the adjacent agricultural land. Månstad is also home to the historic Oxabanan trail; it is 17 km long and runs from Limmared via Tången and Hofsnäs.

The marshes and wetlands, once waterlogged, now offer beautiful views over the surrounding area.

Other destinations: Ale, Tibro, Gothenburg, Orust, Istorp, Tranemo, Bengtsfors

Food and Drink

In Sibbarp in Månstad, you will find Sibbarps Gårdsbageri, a bakery with a café. Sourdough bread, rolls and croissants are baked there by hand in small batches. From Wednesday to Friday, visitors can see what has been freshly baked that day and sit outside when the weather is suitable.

To the main travel overview: Västra Götaland.