Discover Skara
Accommodation in Skara
Skara is best explored through its church and city history. The cathedral, the surviving medieval street network and several museums offer different perspectives, from Sweden’s oldest cathedral to the history of Västergötland, historic buildings and an old railway. Walks and cycling trips provide a complement to these themes. When choosing a hotel, it may help to consider whether you want to spend most of your time at historic sites or also take part in active pursuits.
The cathedral and medieval Skara
Skara Cathedral is considered Sweden’s oldest cathedral. The first known cathedral in Skara was consecrated around 1150. The cathedral is open to visitors daily and houses a well-preserved 12th-century crypt. These historical connections make it a notable starting point for exploring Skara’s church history.
Skara’s medieval street network has also been preserved. Alongside the history of a single building, the city’s historic layout offers another perspective. Anyone interested in medieval heritage can explore both: the cathedral and its crypt, and the surviving street network.
Museums and historic buildings
The Västergötland Museum presents more than 10,000 years of the region’s history and has a permanent exhibition about medieval Skara. The two themes cover different time spans: the museum takes a broad view of the region’s history while also devoting a permanent exhibition to a specific period in the city’s past.
Fornbyn is an open-air museum next to the Västergötland Museum in Skara. Visitors can see around 30 buildings from different parts of Västergötland, including an old-fashioned village shop, old cottages, a church, a smithy, an old barn and an inn building. Unlike the exhibition about medieval Skara, the focus here is on a variety of buildings from across the region.
The Veterinary Museum is housed in the building on the site where Sweden’s first veterinary school was founded in 1775. The basement also contains remains of the 13th-century Franciscan monastery of Sankta Katarina. Two historical themes therefore meet at this site: the history of veterinary medicine and the older history of the monastery.
Walks, railway and cycling trips
The Skara–Lundsbrunn Railway offers another way to combine history with an activity. It runs between Skara and Lundsbrunn using an old steam locomotive and carriages from the first half of the 20th century. Unlike a museum visit, the journey between the two places is the main attraction here.
Skara has ten themed walks. The “Grönskande överraskningar” walk takes 45 to 60 minutes, making it a specific option for planning your day. If you prefer to get around by bike, there is a cycle path with scenic views between Skara and Varnhem. There are also 13 cycling routes around Skara for exploring the surrounding area. The cycle path links two places, while the other routes focus on the surrounding area.
When planning your stay, you can weigh up different priorities: church and city history, exhibitions and buildings, a historic railway journey, or getting active on foot and by bike. The range of options spans everything from individual buildings and historical collections to walks and tours in the surrounding area.
Discover more destinations: Axvall.
Go to the main travel overview: Skara.
