Härjedalen  |  Events 2010  |  Touristoffice  |  Weather  | 

Härjedalen

Welcome to heavenly Härjedalen, home to some of the most popular tourist attractions in southern Norrland. Do you like good stories? Do you want unforgettable experiences
that engage all your senses? If so, then you should leave the train at one of the stops in Härjedalen to visit this land of tales. Härjedalen is the place where stories are born.

Not to be missed
ONE OF EUROPE’S most significant cultural treasures was discovered early in the last century in Överhogdal: five tapestries, the oldest of which dated back to the 9th century. We can recommend a visit to the museum Överhogdals Forngård created around replicas of the Överhogdal tapestries. The Mankell Cultural Centre in Sveg has an interesting and insightful exhibition about the life and work of local boy and world famous author Henning Mankell. You can also join a tour visiting some of the places in Sveg mentioned in Mankell’s work. There are also themed exhibitions. Children will find their own paradise nearby on the fairy-tale island Lillön in Ljusnan. Make sure you visit the new exciting swimming pool complex. Sveg is also home to the world’s largest wooden bear that stands 13 metres tall and weighs 80 tonnes, a tribute to Härjedalen’s mascot.

The Time of Witchcraft
DURING A DARK PERIOD in European history those thought to be witches were persecuted as a wave of hysteria swept across the continent. In the second half of the 17th century the persecution reached Sweden. The Swedish witch hunts began in Lillhärdal when 11-year old Gertrud was accused of walking on water and in turn accused her step-mother-to-be Stor-Märet of teaching her. Stor-Märet was imprisoned for several years before being burnt in 1672, despite maintaining her innocence of the charges. The witchcraft museum at Häxhuset in Lillhärdal has an interesting, frightening and thought-provoking exhibition about the time of witchcraft. 

Excursions into the mountains
IF YOU HIRE a car in Sveg you can explore further. Visit the witchcraft museum Häxhuset in Lillhärdal and see the exhibition about the time of witchcraft. You could stop for a swim in the lake Härjeåsjön on your return journey enjoying the warm water and sandy beaches. If the weather is not suitable for this, then visit the exciting swimming pool complex in Sveg instead. Head off to the forest museum at Ängersjö which explains about the history of forestry from the 19th century to the present day. As an added bonus you can try the museum’s famous “kollbulle” – pork pancakes originally eaten by forestry workers. You could also take a day trip to Funäsdalen. Visit the unique mountain plateau Flatruet and the impressive mountain Helagsfjället with Sweden’s most southerly glacier and cave paintings at Ruändan, outside Messlingen. The mountain museum in Funäsdalen which has exhibitions about life for Samis, mine workers and peasants in bygone days is also worth visiting.  

Highlights! In Sveg, you can now see the largest wooden bear in the world as it welcomes visitors to Sveg and Härjedalen. The bear, which was completed in autumn 2005, is 12 metres high and is made of 200 cubic metres of timber and contains 570,000 nails.