Vänersborg on Lake Vänern: Water, Nature and Culture

Vänersborg lies at the southern tip of Lake Vänern. The municipality has five larger municipal bathing areas on the lake. The localities include Ekenäs, Västra Tunhem, Vargön, Vänersborg, Brålanda and Frändefors; the higher-level section also includes Ale and Strömstad.

Water and Shoreline

Ursand is a shallow bathing beach with grassy, rocky and sandy areas. The beach has toilets, a playground, a kiosk, dining facilities and a swimming pool. At Skräcklan there is a sandy beach, rocky bathing spots and steps, as well as playgrounds, toilets, benches and the services of Skräcklestugan.

Gaddesanna on Vänersnäs has a long, child-friendly sandy beach. There is also a kiosk, parking facilities and toilets. The various sections of shoreline therefore combine shallow beach areas, rocky bathing spots and other facilities, although their individual amenities are not the same.

Nature and Trails

The Dalbobergen Nature Reserve follows the shore of Lake Vänern for more than three kilometres between Dalbobron and Ursand. The Dalbostigen trail runs through the reserve, often high above the water, and offers impressive views.

Along Karls Grav, there are paths for walking or cycling on both sides. The route is approximately 8.5 kilometres long in total. In the Halle- and Hunneberg Ecopark, a network of hiking trails and paths connects the various landscapes and attractions.

There is put-and-take fishing at Lake Hallsjön on the plateau of Halleberg. Halle- & Hunneberg also offers guided nature and forest tours on foot or by vehicle, during which visitors learn about nature, wildlife and history. The interactive exhibition at Halle- & Hunneberg presents the history, animals and nature of the mountains.

Predikstolen is located at the summit of Hallesnipen. From there, the views extend far across the landscape and include a panorama of Sweden’s largest lake.

Cycling and Waterways

Vänerleden is a national cycle route approximately 640 kilometres long that circles Lake Vänern in four stages. The Vänersborg–Åmål and Vänersborg–Mariestad stages begin or end in Vänersborg. Linnéleden, Sverigeleden, Västgötaleden and Dalslandsleden also pass through the area.

Kayaks can be rented via KAYAKOMAT at Skräcklan; paddles, life jackets and spray skirts are included. The Brinkebergskulle lock in Vänersborg Municipality is the uppermost of six locks regulating the waterway between Lake Vänern and Sweden’s west coast.

The tenth stage of the Pilgrimsleden Göta älv also leads to Vänersborg: it runs from the church in Trollhättan to Dalbobron in Vänersborg.

Culture and History

Vänersborg was granted city rights in 1644, after the older market town of Brätte was replaced by a new town farther north. In the 16th century, Brätte developed from a marketplace into a town with royal privileges.

Vänersborgs museum is Sweden’s oldest museum institution. It displays Egyptian mummy cases, African birds, Nordic animals, art and temporary exhibitions. The collections of Vänersborgs museum and Kulturlagret comprise approximately 350,000 objects, 1,500,000 photographs, about 60,000 books and around 120 individual archives.

Vassända-Naglums kyrka is a Gustavian church built between 1797 and 1799. Restad Gård is an area with a rich cultural history and buildings whose stories visitors can discover during a tour.

Artscape Vänersborg now comprises 16 murals that can be viewed in Vänersborg Municipality. There is a map for Artscape Vänersborg showing the locations of the murals in the municipality.

Market and Local History

Oktobermarknaden has been held in the centre of Vänersborg for more than 200 years and is a traditional, recurring market event. Among other things, visitors can buy handicrafts, sweets and reindeer sausage there.

To the higher-level travel overview: Västra Götaland.