Cultural reserves in Sweden - full list

Cultural reserves in Sweden - do you know about them? We recently visited the Lingnåre cultural reserve in Uppland, which was really interesting. During this visit, we became curious about the concept of cultural reserves. What are they? And where are they located?

What are cultural reserves in Sweden?

The concept of a cultural reserve was introduced in 1999 and was intended to mimic the concept of a nature reserve. The introduction of cultural reserves was intended to enable the care and conservation of culturally valuable landscapes. This can include, for example, land, ancient monuments or buildings, but also knowledge and traditions.

Swedish cultural reserves - from north to south

There are currently a total of 45 cultural reserves in Sweden (Jan 2022), according to the Swedish National Heritage Board. 35 are designated by county councils and 10 by municipalities. Whether the Swedish cultural reserves are worth visiting? We have visited some and it was both interesting and beautiful. Otherwise, we don't know, but we are curious to investigate it a little more carefully. We like culture and history! Maybe you have visited something and have some tips? Here is the whole list:

1. Hanhivittikko mountain hut

• Övertorneå municipality, Norrbotten county, Norrbotten, Sweden
• Farming environment and agricultural landscape

Hanhivittikko Fäbod is a uniquely preserved pastoral environment and agricultural landscape from 1860, located 10 kilometres northwest of Övertorneå.

2. the atrocity

• Storuman, Västerbotten County, Lapland
• Sami reindeer herding environment

The "Atoklimpen" is an oddly shaped mountain, 1006 metres high, 30 kilometres west of Tärnaby, where you can see the Sami reindeer herding environment since prehistoric times, and the mountain is sacred to the Sami.

3rd Gallejaur town

• Municipality of Arvidsjaur, County of Norrbotten, Lapland
• Farm environment and agricultural landscape

Gallejaur village in Arvidsjaur with several unpainted log houses from the 19th century and with a farm environment and agricultural landscape.

4. Rörträsk

• Norsjö municipality, Västerbotten county, Västerbotten province
• Hay meadows with flood irrigation systems

Rörträsk is a village in Rörsjö municipality. Sven Benjaminsson from Böle started building on 23 September 1793 at Lake Rörträsk.

5. Fatomakke church town

• Municipality of Vilhelmina, County of Västerbotten, Lapland
• Church town for Sami and settlers

The church town of Fatmomakke has been a sacred place for Sami people and settlers since the 18th century, and is an exciting Swedish cultural reserve.

6. Sandviken fishing village

• Örnsköldsvik municipality, Västernorrland county, Ångermanland.
• fishing village

Sandviken's fishing village "the fishing village of the curved backs" was built in the 17th century. This is also where the tradition of putting in surströmming comes from.

7. Marieberg sawmill community

• Kramfors municipality, Västernorrland county, Ångermanland.
• Industrial environment (workers' housing)

Marieberg sawmill community completed in 1862 with a steam saw in Bjärtrå.

8. Lögdö mill

• Timrå Municipality, Västernorrland County, Medelpad
• Industrial environment (mill environment)

Lögdö Bruk is a former ironworks from the 18th century. The mill is located on the banks of the Ljustorpsån river with blast furnaces at Masugnsbäcken. Mills and hammers were located by Aspån.

9. Lillhärjåbygget

• Municipality of Härjedalen, County of Jämtland, Härjedalen.
• Farm environment (mountain farm) and agricultural and mountain landscape

Lillhärjåbygget is a mountain farm with herding operations established in 1804.

10. Western meadow

• Hudiksvall municipality, Gävleborg county, Hälsingland.
• Farm environment (hälsingegård) and agricultural landscape

Västeräng is a village with four farms outside of Delsbo and the farms (fäbodarna) Ersk-mickels, Ol-Ers and Schäftners are located together while the fourth, called Bommens, is a little outside.

11. Våsbo mountain huts

• Municipality of Ovanåker, County of Gävleborg, Hälsingland
• Farming environment and agricultural landscape

Four of the valleys (sites) are located north of Lake Våsen, and about a mile north of both Edsbyn and the home village of Roteberg. Very little has changed since 1800.

12. Dysdalen

• Älvdalen municipality, Dalarna county, Dalarna
• Archaeological site with traces of recent bog iron production

With traces of later bog iron production in the 17th and 18th centuries. Blast mills were used in many places in Sweden from about 700 BC and last in commercial operation in 1871.

13. Axmar Mill

• Municipality of Gävle, County of Gävleborg, Gästrikland
• Industrial environment (mill environment)

The new mill was completed in 1672, and for the next hundred years it belonged to the Behm family, or more precisely Brita Behm. Axmar Bruk has its own history with a preserved cabin with two ovens and a park with ruins from the oldest mill in the 1670s.

14. The millstone quarry in eastern Utsjö.

• Malungs municipality, Dalarna county, Dalarna
• Industrial environment (millstone quarry)

The millstone quarry in eastern Utsjö boasts a primeval forest that has been allowed to grow freely for more than a hundred years and is untouched, but stone has been cut here for over a thousand years.

15. Stabergs bergmansgård

• Municipality of Falun, Dalarna County, Dalarna
• Industrial and farm environment (mine and smelter environment) with farmland and garden

Staberg's miner's farm from the 17th and 18th centuries is one of the most well-preserved miner's farms in Kopparbergslagen, the area around the Falu mine, and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site with Falun.

16. Juhola Finngård

• Torsby municipality, Värmlands län, Värmland
• Farm environment (estate) and agricultural landscape

On 26 March 1961, Mattila was inaugurated as a tourist facility with a ski lodge and thus Mattila is Nordvärmland's oldest tourist facility. Mattila is located in the middle of the "Finnskogen" about 4 miles northwest of Torsby municipality, near the border with Norway. The farm dates back to the middle of the 17th century and the stories are still alive today. Today there is a Finn farm with a smokehouse (the only one in the world that is regularly lit) and a recreational and accommodation centre. In Mattila there are about 40 cabins, most of which can be rented. There is a restaurant, meeting rooms, a ski stadium and the start of several hiking and cycling trails.

17. lingnåre

• Tierp Municipality, Uppsala County, Uppland
• Fossilised agricultural landscape

This Swedish cultural reserve, located on the Hållnäs peninsula in Tierp municipality, is a 28-hectare area that was designated a cultural reserve in 2004. The aim is to 'preserve a unique, largely preserved cultural landscape from the Viking Age and the Middle Ages and to nurture its cultural, historical and biological values'.

18. Bråfors bergmansby

• Norberg municipality, Västmanland county, Västmanland.
• Farm environment (Bergman farm) and agricultural landscape

Bråfors is one of the country's oldest mining villages. Iron was produced in the smelter and agriculture was practised on the farm.

19. Linnaeus' Hammarby

• Uppsala Municipality, Uppsala County, Uppland
• Farm environment and agricultural landscape

Linnaeus' Hammarby is one of Sweden's most stylishly preserved 18th century farms. It was bought by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 as a refuge from Uppsala's unhealthy environment and is located 15 kilometres southeast of Uppsala.

20. the Brattforshet wartime airfield.

• Karlstad municipality, Värmland county, Värmland
• Defence environment

Brattforsheden wartime airfield is located one kilometre east of Molkom in Värmland County. On 9 June 1939, the government granted the first 20 small airfields, which eventually became 40. Today one remains, which is Krigsflygfält 16 Brattforshedens.

21. gäddeholm

• Municipality of Västerås, County of Västmanland, Västmanland
• Manor house environment and agricultural landscape with industrial environment (mill and mine environment)

This cultural reserve in Sweden has a park, garden, buildings and surrounding land characterised by agriculture and brickworks.

22. Old Pershyttan's mining village

• Nora Municipality, Örebro County, Västmanland
• Industrial environment (industrial and mining environment)

Gamla Pershyttan is a well-preserved mining village where people mined ore and made iron from the 14th century until modern times.

23) Brottö

• Municipality of Österåker, Stockholm County, Uppland.
• Farm environment and agricultural landscape

Here you can walk up from the steamboat pier through a rich archipelago landscape with fields, meadows, oaks, overgrown gardens and interesting buildings.

24. Igelbäcken

• City of Stockholm, Stockholm County, Uppland
• Urbanised agricultural landscape and recreational area

Igelbäcken is an approximately 10.5 km long watercourse in northern Stockholm that connects Säbysjön in Järfälla with the Edsviken bay at Ulriksdal Castle in Solna, passing through the Igelbäcken nature reserve.

25. Dalarö shipwreck site

• Haninge Municipality, Stockholm County, Södermanland
• Marine archaeological environment (shipwrecks)

In 2014, the waters off Dalarö were named the Dalarö Shipwreck Area and became Sweden's first marine cultural reserve. For 800 years, this has been one of the most important maritime trade routes to Stockholm.

26. Karlslund Mansion

• Örebro municipality, Örebro county, Närke
• Urban mansion environment with park and garden

Karlslund was built in the 16th century by Duke Karl, Duke of Närke and Södermanland, later Karl IX. Karlslund Manor is a well-preserved central Swedish manor environment with buildings, garden and park.

27. summer rose

• Örebro municipality, Örebro county, Närke
• Urban farm environment (farmhouse) with park.

In the Sommarro Swedish Cultural Reserve you can enjoy both beautiful nature and exciting cultural remains in a deciduous landscape.

28. Lower Söderby

• Salem Municipality, Stockholm County, Södermanland
• Farm environment and agricultural landscape

The houses consist of a knotted timbered semi-detached cottage and an outbuilding wing containing a loft and a farmhouse. The buildings were probably built in the 18th century.

29. Åsnebyn

• Municipality of Mellerud, County of Västra Götaland, Dalsland
• Farm environment and agricultural landscape

A typical Dalmatian farm, with a landscape characterised by the 19th and early 20th century. In Åsnebyn you can experience what old-fashioned farming in Dalarna looked like. The farm is first mentioned in a document from 1380.

30. Vallby Sörgården

• Skövde municipality, Västra Götaland county, Västergötland, Sweden
• Farm environment and agricultural landscape

Skaraborg's only cultural reserve. There are eight buildings at Vallby Sörgården, including a two-storey mansion from 1826, two farm buildings, a stone cellar, a barn, a sheepfold and a smithy.

31st Island

• Municipality of Linköping, County of Östergötland, Östergötland
• Farm environment and agricultural landscape

The village's farms are located on a headland next to Stensjön and consist of small timbered cottages, first mentioned in 1736.

32. Gräfsnäs Castle Park

• Alingsås Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Västergötland, Sweden
• Castle ruin, park and recreational area

Gräfsnäs castle ruin and park is one of the municipality's biggest tourist destinations. The castle is surrounded by a castle park with several different noble deciduous trees such as oak and ash, red oak, maple and lime.

33. Smedstorp double farm

• Ydre municipality, Östergötland county, Östergötland.
• Farm environment and agricultural landscape

Smedstorp's double farmhouse and landscape have retained their character since the 18th century. The farm's small, timber-grey buildings give a vivid picture of how the farmer's life was during the time of self-sufficiency in Sweden.

34. The village of Åsen

• Aneby Municipality, Jönköping County, Småland, Sweden
• Farm environment and agricultural landscape

Here you can wander around on your own or take part in various activities. You will experience 1900 with agriculture, horse power, working with the animals, bread baking and washing in the brewhouse.

35. Gunnebo Castle and Gardens

• Mölndal Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Västergötland, Sweden.
• Castle environment with gardens and landscape park

Gunnebo Castle and Gardens was built in the 18th century as a summer resort for the successful merchant John Hall and his family. Today the castle is owned by the municipality of Mölndal and the area is open to the public.

36. Ramsholmen's agricultural landscape

• Marks Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Västergötland, Sweden
• Fossilised agricultural landscape

The area contains several different environmental and nature types, mostly sparse deciduous forest and open land, and includes the existing farm Ramsholmen and remnants of the former Hult Nedergården and Skallared.

37. Äskhult farm

• Kungsbacka municipality, Halland county, Halland, Sweden.
• Farm environment and agricultural landscape

The village now has no residents left and is preserved in a historical condition. It consists of four farms and was parcelled out in such a way that the houses did not have to be moved.

38. The marten farm

• Kungsbacka municipality, Halland county, Halland, Sweden.
• Farm environment (captain's residence) and agricultural landscape

The Mårtagården cultural reserve on the Onsala peninsula consists of the two captain's houses Mårtagården and Apelhögen.

39. Norrbys in Väte

• Gotland County, Gotland
• Farm environment and agricultural landscape

The farm dates from 1936 and is completely intact with Gotland's oldest watermill.

40. Högarp village

• Vetlanda Municipality, Jönköping County, Småland, Sweden
• Farm environment and agricultural landscape

Dating back to the 15th century, the village consists of five farms, one of which is in active use, old fields with boulders, cultivation terraces and cairns lined with stone walls and fences.

41. Linnaeus Råshult

• Älmhult Municipality, Kronoberg County, Småland, Sweden
• Farm environment and agricultural landscape

Råshult Södregård is the vicarage between Diö and Älmhult, where Carl Linnaeus was born on 23 May 1707. Here you can experience a genuine cultural landscape from the 18th century.

42. The Bollalt Building

• Laholm municipality, Halland county, Halland, Sweden
• Farm environment and agricultural landscape

In the centre of the Bollaltebygget cultural reserve is an unusually well-preserved older four-tiered farmhouse with roots in the 17th century.

43. Örnarnäs

• Osby municipality, Skåne county, Skåne
• Farm environment and agricultural landscape

Old-fashioned agriculture remains here and is preserved to understand what happened in Örnanäs in 1584, then called Ørnes. It was originally a solitary farm, which was destroyed by fire by Swedish troops in April 1678 during the Scanian War and later rebuilt.

44. Ronneby Brunnspark

• Ronneby municipality, Blekinge county, Blekinge
• Fountain park and farmland

It dates back to 1705 and in the late 1870s was Sweden's most visited health centre. Brunnsparken has won many awards for its fantastic park.

45. Stensjö village

• Oskarshamn Municipality, Kalmar County, Småland, Sweden
• Farm environment and agricultural landscape

Stensjö is a village and a cultural reserve in the parish of Döderhult, consisting of some 30 culturally valuable buildings in an original cultural landscape by Lake Stärringen.

Have you visited any cultural reserves in Sweden?

Have you visited any of these Swedish cultural reserves? What can you tell us about the ones you have visited?