Discover Huse: Nature Reserve, Pit Traps and Häggenås Church

Huse combines remarkable natural surroundings with traces of Swedish cultural and landscape history. In Huse Nature Reserve, spruce, pine and aspen trees grow alongside wet mires, calcareous water and distinctive plant and mushroom species. In the surrounding area, pit traps and Häggenås Church also tell the story of different eras. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Huse can therefore tailor their stay to their own interests: nature observation, historical discoveries or a mixture of both.

Huse Nature Reserve and Its Distinctive Plant Life

The forest in Huse Nature Reserve consists of spruce, pine and aspen trees. Wet mires with highly calcareous water lie in the western part. Calcareous soil and moving groundwater create conditions there for calcicole species. In the area, you can find Kranshaksmossa, Blå taggsvamp, Vispstarr and Kransrams. Orchids and rare mushrooms also grow in the nature reserve.

These details make Huse interesting for travellers who want to experience the landscape as more than just a backdrop. Depending on the children's ages, a shared outing can be an opportunity to discuss the differences between the forest, the mire and the species found there. An information board in the nature reserve provides additional guidance on site. This allows you to make the natural surroundings a specific focus of your travel planning without limiting your stay to a single attraction.

From Former Pastoral Farming to the Pit Traps

The present-day landscape of the nature reserve has also been shaped by its former use. A historical map from the 1838 Laga-skifte documents shows that most of the area was then used as pastureland. Livestock belonging to a fäbod, a Swedish summer pasture farm, grazed in what is now the reserve. The small mires were formerly mown with scythes; this traditional practice is known as myrslåtter. The former grazing made it easier for certain plants and mushrooms to thrive.

In the vicinity of Huse, an area with pit traps also extends for up to 15 kilometres and includes around 350 pits. The pit traps were already used as a hunting method during the Iron Age. For families, this part of the area's history can be particularly vivid because it connects the natural surroundings with human use. The exact extent should be understood as an approximate figure.

Häggenås Church and Views Across the Landscape

Another cultural landmark is the present-day Häggenås Church. It was completed in 1837 and designed by the master builder Lars David Geting and the architect Samuel Enander of the Överintendentsämbetet. The church stands on a slope below the village of Österåsen and offers views across the wooded landscape. A few hundred metres to the north are the ruins of its medieval predecessor church, together with associated timber-built barns and storehouses.

Those interested in architectural history can discover different historical layers at the present-day church and the ruins. The connection between the sites remains clear: the predecessor church is located a few hundred metres north of the present-day Häggenås Church. When choosing accommodation in Huse, it is useful to consider your desired nature and cultural destinations during the travel planning stage and allow for the journey to each excursion destination.

Getting to the Nature Reserve

Huse Nature Reserve can be reached from the E45. Follow the E45 north of Östersund, turn towards Häggenås and then turn left towards Huse and Grötom. After approximately 5 kilometres, the nature reserve is on the right-hand side of the road. Beyond the village of Huse, the road may be closed by a barrier. This possibility should therefore be included in your day planning if you choose a holiday apartment in Huse as a base for exploring the nature reserve.

For the higher-level travel overview: Lit.