Travel to Scandinavia by train

In Vasagatan (Nos. 37-39), which cuts across the Aveny, the Museum of Applied Art (Rohsska Konstsldjd-museet: by Carl Westman, Travel to Scandinavia by train 1 91 6), houses ancient and modern gold and silver, textiles, furniture, glass and porcelain. At the entrance are two Chinese marble lions of the Ming dynasty (1386-1 644). On the S side of Vasagatan, in the Vasa Park, is the University, and to the S of this the Vasa Church (1909). At the W end of Vasagatan, at the intersection with Haga Kyrkogatan, is the Commercial College, and to the N of this the Haga Kyrka (1 859). On a hill tothe SW is a remnant of the old fortifications, Skansen Kronan, from which there are fine views. The massive tower (1 697) houses a Military Museum, with a collection of historical weapons and Swedish uniforms from the 17th c. to the present day. Around the hill extends a working-class district developed from 1 850 onwards.

To the N, at the W end of Sodra Allegatan, is the Jarntorg, Travel to Scandinavia by train with a fountain by Tore Strindberg (1 927); on the outside of the basin are old iron stamps. From here Forsta Langgatan runs W to St John’s Church (1 866), to the S of which, on a plateau, stands the Masthuggskyrka (1 914: fine views of town and harbour). Then by way of Stigbergsgatan and Stigbersplatsen, with the well-preserved Gathenhielmska Hus (1710), to the Shipping Museum (Sjofartsmuseet), which shows the development of shipping, shipbuilding and fishing from the Viking period to today; aquarium. Adjoining the Museum is the Seamen’s Tower (49 m 1 60 ft), topped by Ivar Johnsson’s sculpture, Woman by the Sea; the tower was built to commemorate the seamen who lost their lives in the First World War (good views). To the W the Alvborg Bridge (1 966), 933 m (1 020 yds) long and 45 m (148 ft) high, leads on to the Hisinge peninsula. Near the Shipping Museum is the fishing harbour (interesting auctions from 7 a.m. on weekdays). It is also well worth visiting the fish market (feskekorka) on the Rosenlundskanal.

Gothenburg’s largest park, the Slotts-skog (Castle Wood), lies S of the Shipping Museum on Dag Ham-marskjoldsled. Travel to Scandinavia by train It is a beautifully wooded area (oaks and conifers), with lakes (seals), a deer-park, attractive footpaths and roads, and two restaurants; from the lookout tower there are extensive views. At the N E corner of the park is the Natural History Museum (the whales being of particular interest). To the SE, beyond Dag Hammarskjoldsled, is the Botanic Garden (Botaniska TradgSrden), on the N E side of which is the Sahlgren Hospital, one ofthe largest in Sweden. Between the Slottsskog and the Gotaalv lies the MAJORNA district, formerly a working-class quarter, with the Landshdvdingehus (governor’s houses) of about 1 875, in typical Gothenburg style. Since timber-built houses were not allowed to have more than two storeys the ground floor was built of stone.

SURROUNDINGS. From Lilia Bommen it is a half-hour trip by motorboat to the fortress of Nya Elfsborg (1 670; restored 1971), Travel to Scandinavia by train on an island off the mouth of the river. There are also attractive trips to the skerries, particularly popular being one of the outer islands, Styrso (swimming). 9 km (5 miles) SWatthe mouth of the Gotaalv is Ldngedrag, formerly a fishing village and now a popular resort (summer restaurant) and attractive residential suburb. Landvetter, Gothenburg’s airport, is 18 km (11 miles) from midcity on the Bors road (No. 40). 7 km (4 miles) S of E6 is the industrial town of Molndal, now almost fused with Gothenburg (pop. 47,300; hotels, see under Gothenburg). 2 km (1 miles) E stands Gunnebo Castle (1796), in a beautiful English-style park; to the W is Aby racecourse. 7 km (4 miles) farther S on E6 is Kallered, which has a church dating in part from the 13th c. with a beautifully painted wooden ceiling. At Lindome the road leaves the province of Bohuslan and continues to Halland and Kungsbacka (pop. 40,900; Halland Hotel, 121 Gillet, 25 b.): Town Hall of 1935 with library and theatre, open-air museum in the beautiful natural park of Kungsbacksskog. 5 km 3 esy E, on a peninsula in the RolfsS, is Gasevadsholm Castle 11 km (7 miles) NW of Kungsbacka we come to the idyllic island of Sard, now linked arth the mainland and increasingly being drawn into the orbit of Gothenburg. 10 km (6 miles SW on a road which runs along the shore ofthe Kjngsbackafjord, we reach Onsaa which has a richly painted church (17th1 8th restored 1918-19). In the octagonal burial vault are two massive marine sarcophagi containing the remains ofthe Swedish naval hero and privateer Lars Gathenhielm (1689-1718) and his wife Ingela. In the adjoining church stables is a Carriage Museum.-4km (2 miles) beyond Onsala is the resort of Gczzsxar (Marinhotellet 20 b.). 8 km (5 miles) S of Kungsbacka a road branches off E6 on the left and runs 3 km (2 miles) E to the Fjaras Bracka, a morainic ridge several miles long which skirts the W end of Lake Lyngern (18 km (11 miles) long). At the W end of the ridge are a large Iron Age cemetery and 103 standing stones, the largest of which is 4-75 m (15ft) high. Returning to the main road, turn off almost at once into a road on the right signposted to Asa. 3-5 km (2 miles) SW of Torpa, on a peninsula on the S side ofthe Kungsbackafjord, is the imposing Tjoloholm Castle, a mansion in English Renaissance style built by the Gothenburg businessman James Frederik Dickson between 1898 and 1 904 (conducted tours in summer). 6 km (4 miles) farther S on the main road is the little seaside resort of Asa (motel, 40 b.). Beyond this, at Frilesas, we rejoin E6. At Backa a road goes off on the right to the Ringhals nuclear power station; at Askloster E6 crosses the River Viska, which flows into the Klosterfjord: and in another 1 0 km (6 miles) a road goes off on the left (No. 41) to Boris ( 70). From this point it is 2 km (1 miles) to Varberg (pop. 43,550; Stadshotellet, 214 Gastis, 55 City, 32 Bergklinten, 18 StrandgSrden, Getteron, 50 youth hostel; several campsites), a town with a history dating back to the Middle Ages but now known mainly as an attractive seaside resort. There are more than 6 km (4 miles) of cliff-fringed sandy beaches, with varied and beautiful scenery in the surrounding area. This is an important area for sea fishing (several boat trips daily). The town’s most prominent feature is the 13th c. fortress (with later alterations) on a rocky promontory to the W, which came into Swedish hands in 1 645. It now houses a local museum, notable in particular for the clothes found on a body dating from medieval times which was discovered in 1 936 in a bog at Bocksten, to the E of the town. In the fortifications is a cafe with a superb view ofthe sea. To the N of the town are the ruins of the parish church, dating in part from the 14th c. In the Old Harbour Magazine is a glass-works (open to visitors). Off the coast to the W lies the island of Gettero, linked with the mainland by a causeway. Car ferry to GrenS in Denmark (4hours). 7 km (44 miles) S of Varberg is the largest fishing village in Halland, Trasdvsage (wooden church with interesting paintings). 47 km (30 miles) NE of Gothenburg on E3 is the beautifully situated town of AlingsSs. Ascending the valley of the SaveS, the road comes to Jonsered (13 km 8 miles), where it enters the Vastergotland region, and then continues along the S side of Lake Aspen to Lerum (church with ceiling of 1750). Then, after passing through Floda, along the E side of Lake Savelang to Naas, where there is a 1 9th c. castle set in a beautiful park. The castle is situated on a peninsula and now houses a College of Arts and Crafts (founded 1 868: open to visitors).

Stadshotellet, 90 Gripen, 20 b.), on the N side of Lake Mjorn, is an old court and industrial town (weaving mills). In 1724 Jonas Alstromer and Christoffer Polhem established a textile mill here and thus founded the Swedish textile trade. In the market square are a bust of Alstromer (1 685-1 761) and an old warehouse of 1 631, now a museum. In the park of Nolhaga Castle (deer-park, lakes, old beech trees) Alstromer grew the first potatoes and tobacco in Sweden. 9 km (6 miles) NW, at Brobacka, the river which links Lake Anten and Mjorn flows between steep rock walls. 2 km (1 £ miles) away is Anten, with an old-time railway (engine and coaches dating from

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