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Provided by: Visit Sundsvall

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Europe Sweden Sundsvall Do & See Gudmundstjärn Nature Reserve & Open-air Museum

Overview

Gudmundstjärn Nature Reserve & Open-air Museum

The guide was updated: 2023-12-22

Gudmundstjärn, located 30 km west of Sundsvall, is one of Sweden's last preserved self-sufficient settlements. Between 1779 and 1944 the fields here were farmed by five generations. No roads connected the homestead to the outside world. The 22 preserved buildings have been declared historical monuments, and the area is now a nature reserve.

Useful Information

Address: Gudmundstjärn, Indal
Website: www.lansstyrelsen.se/vasternorrland/besoksmal/naturreservat/gudmundstjarn
Phone: +46 611 34 90 00

Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.

*this will be downloaded as a PDF.

Price

€4,95

Purchase

Staircase of Knaust

Staircase of Knaust

The Elite Hotel Knaust is located in a building from 1891, well-known for its beautiful fan-shaped marble staircase and magnificent hall of mirrors.

Rooftop Tour

Rooftop Tour

Discover Sundsvall from above! Have a close up with the Stone Town on a guided tour.

Gudmundstjärn Nature Reserve & Open-air Museum

Gudmundstjärn Nature Reserve & Open-air Museum

Gudmundstjärn, located 30 km west of Sundsvall, is one of Sweden's last preserved self-sufficient settlements. Between 1779 and 1944 the fields here were farmed by five generations. No roads connected the homestead to the outside world. The 22 preserved buildings have been declared historical monuments, and the area is now a nature reserve.

Kulturmagasinet

Kulturmagasinet

The Kulturmagasinet consists of four old harbour warehouses in the Stone City of Sundsvall, which were glazed over in 1986 to form today's cultural centre. It houses Sundsvall city library, Sundsvall Museum, a café, the Medelpad Archive and much more. It offers culture for everyone, with special activities aimed at children throughout the year.

Indalsleden — the Indal Route

Indalsleden — the Indal Route

National roads 86 and 87 between Sundsvall and Östersund, known as the Indalsleden, are said to be some of Sweden's most beautiful tourist routes. The entire stretch along the Indal River valley is an eldorado for independent outdoor activities. If you're interested in history, there are numerous reasons to stop and explore old rural culture, museums, nature information centres and ancient remains.

Selånger Pilgrim Center

Selånger Pilgrim Center

The Selånger Pilgrim Centre serves as a platform to highlight the exciting local history. It's also as a starting point for cyclists and hikers on the St Olavsleden — a pilgrim's way between Selånger outside Sundsvall in Sweden and Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim in Norway The centre features a café offering coffee, tea, sandwiches, salads, and the world's most delicious "dragon" ice cream. Don't miss the opportunity to try the locally produced cheesecake from Gårdtjärn with jam from Blåtand in Stöde.

Nolby Högar Open-air Museum

Nolby Högar Open-air Museum

Welcome to a meeting place many thousands of years old, which tells a part of the exciting history of Västernorrland. Take in the landscape and the views. Traces of previous generations are especially evident here: burial mounds, an early medieval church ruin, house foundations, roads, and a runestone bear witness to the lives lived here. The exhibition at the Nolby Högar site narrates the area's long history. Here, you can learn about how land uplift has changed the landscape over time and how people have used this place for thousands of years.

Svartvik Industrial Heritage

Svartvik Industrial Heritage

Svartvik bears the memories from 200 years of northern Swedish industrial history, evolving from a loading dock to a shipyard, steam sawmill, and pulp factory. Today, Svartvik will be a point of interest with displays of its history, park like environment, playgrounds for the children, one of the oldest water towers in Sweden and a skittle alley, where you can try to play just like the patrons did during the peak of the logging industry. Visit the exhibition featuring a 7-meter-long model of Svartvik in the 1930s. In the summer, a variety of activities are organised by the Svartvik Days Association. In the winter, image and storytelling evenings with historical themes are arranged. Dine at the manor house, enjoy a coffee at Café Svartvik, or visit the antique shop.

Galtströms Bruk

Galtströms Bruk

Galtström is located at what once was Medelpad's first, largest and last ironworks, along the coast south of Sundsvall. A visit to Galtström is like a journey through time. In the wonderful environment you can feel the wing beat of history, ride a steam train, wander in nature, or take a dip in the sea from cliffs and sandy beaches. The site includes a restaurant, a playground, fascinating ruins, and is very child-friendly. SCA, which owns and manages the ironworks, offers guided tours on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer.

Merlo Slott

Merlo Slott

The grand, fairy-tale castle-like main building in Timrå was built in 1883–1885 as a summer residence for the timber magnate Fredrik Bünsow, who was one of Sweden's most powerful timber barons at the time. The architects were Isak Gustaf Clason and Fritz Eckert. Clason is known for designing the Nordic Museum and Hallwyl Palace in Stockholm. The beautiful castle (or Villa Merlo, as it is actually called) is now a cultural heritage site and houses Svenska Cellulosa's central archive. In the summer, you can take a guided tour to see the many rooms and halls that still retain their former glory. Even the garden alone is well worth a visit.

Flataklocken — the Geographical Midpoint of Sweden

Flataklocken — the Geographical Midpoint of Sweden

Approximately 60 kilometres west of Sundsvall, you'll find Flataklocken, which was designated as the Geographical Centre of Sweden's landmass through a centre-of-gravity calculation by KTH in Stockholm in 1947. This means that if you were to put Sweden on a needle, it would be in balance just over the mountain Flataklocken. It offers a vast 360-degree view of the beautiful landscape in Ljungandalen, and on clear days, one can see far towards the Sundsvall coast. At the summit, there are fire pits and a café open in the summer.

Norra Berget Open-air Museum

Norra Berget Open-air Museum

The Norra Berget open-air museum is one of the region's most popular excursion destinations. The combination of nature, cultural history, eateries, shops, playgrounds, barbecue areas and events appeals to both young and old, all year-round.

Alnö Island

Alnö Island

Alnö, known as 'Norrland's Hawaii', is a volcanic island just outside Sundsvall that formed approximately 570 million years ago. As a result, Alnö features unique rocks and minerals not found anywhere else in the world, including the eponymous Alnöite. Around the turn of the 20th century, Alnö was a true sawmill island with 19 sawmills operating simultaneously. Today's Alnö is a summer paradise with cosy bathing coves, fishing villages, restaurants and cafés.

Old Church of Alnö

Old Church of Alnö

The Alnö Old Church is a medieval church built in the latter part of the 12th century. The church served two purposes: as a place of worship and as a defensive structure. Today, it stands as one of the oldest and best-preserved churches, popular in the summer for baptisms and weddings. Nearby lies Alnö Hembygdsgård, with its exhibitions on Alnö's local history.

Vättaberget

Vättaberget

The view from Vättaberget is one of the most photographed in Sweden and well worth the 1-hour drive from Sundsvall city. In the summer, you can enjoy a cup of coffee or light refreshments at the Vättaberget café. You can also visit some of the old buildings on site, such as the blacksmith's shop. In the winter, it's the ski slope that attracts visitors.

Bergsåkers Trotting Track

Bergsåkers Trotting Track

Bergsåker Racecourse, the country's fourth largest harness racing track and the true trotting metropolis of Norrland. Races are held year-round, with about 50 racing days every year. The biggest racing event is the Sundsvall Open Trot, held at the end of August each year. Besides harness racing, Bergsåker also annually hosts fairs, exhibitions, markets, and a variety of other events.

Kustvägen

Kustvägen

Kustvägen (the coast road) is a 75-kmstretch of road south of Sundsvall, that runs from Jättendal in the south to Svartvik in the north. Take the opportunity to leave the big roads and experience the lovely Swedish coastline. The road will take you through forest and agriculture landscape. You'll find genuine fishing villages, Norrland’s longest beach, restaurants & cafés, industrial museums, golf courses, hotels, camping, B&Bs, fishing and more.

Himlabadet

Himlabadet

Himlabadet is an adventure pool with something for everyone. Water slides, a relaxation and spa area, waterfalls, whirlpools, saunas, café, restaurant and more. Want to give surfing a try? Here's your chance, on Europe's first SurfStream. In the summer, there are also outdoor pools to enjoy.

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