Skara between cathedral history, geopark and walking trails

The history of the town dates back to the early period of Christianity, while museums, geopark landscapes, lakes and excursion destinations showcase different sides of the town and its surroundings.

History and culture

Västergötlands museum has its roots in the Västergötlands Fornminnesförening, founded in 1863. Today, it presents more than 10,000 years of the region’s history and displays, among other things, well-preserved Bronze Age shields. Fornbyn, with around twenty 19th-century buildings, is located next to the museum.

The town’s first known cathedral was consecrated around 1150. New discoveries indicate that a church already stood on the site in the 11th century. The present cathedral contains a well-preserved 12th-century crypt.

Varnhem Abbey Church has almost a thousand years of history and is the final resting place of four Swedish medieval kings and Birger Jarl, the founder of Stockholm. Kata Gård preserves the ruins of a private farm church from the Viking Age. The crypt at Kata Gård could be Sweden’s oldest surviving room.

Landscape and geopark

The Valle area lies at the foot of the western side of the Billingen table mountain in the municipalities of Skara and Skövde. The Ice Age left behind a distinctive, hilly kame landscape there. Varnhem and Valle are located in the Platåbergens Geopark, Sweden’s first UNESCO Global Geopark.

A different landscape can be found in the Vingängen nature reserve south of Axvall in the municipality of Skara. The area comprises grazed pastures characterised by oak and birch trees, with eight so-called giant oaks.

Walking trails and water

Skara offers ten themed walks through the thousand-year-old town. Klostersjön runt is a shorter hiking trail around the lake near Varnhem. The first half runs along a surfaced gravel path and is well suited to prams, wheelchairs and walking frames. The Flämsjön runt hiking trail is approximately 9 kilometres long.

Rowing boats and canoes can be rented at Lake Flämsjön. There is also a large bathing beach and a nature trail.

Cycling and visitor information

Skara Municipality has 85 kilometres of cycle paths. Thirteen cycling tours are available in Skara, taking you through the town’s surroundings. In addition, Kontaktcenter Skara is a tourist information centre authorised by Visita.

The InfoPoints in Skara offer brochures and maps for the surrounding area, as well as assistance from knowledgeable staff with basic visitor enquiries.

Further experiences

Bokäventyret is Sweden’s first playful and educational exhibition about the history of books and writing. The stations range from rune stones and the printing press to children’s and young adult literature. Veterinärmuseet presents the development of the veterinary profession over 250 years.

Skara Sommarland combines a large water park with an amusement park and a go-kart track. The Skara–Lundsbrunn museum railway offers rides on a narrow-gauge railway with an old steam locomotive and carriages from the first half of the 20th century.

For the overarching travel overview: Västra Götaland.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Tidaholm, Götene, Svenljunga, Nödinge-Nol, Sunnersberg, Karlsborg.