Hjältevad and Lake Hjälten: Water, Routes and Local History

Hjältevad combines its proximity to Lake Hjälten with a remarkable local history. The village lies directly southeast of the lake and in the valley of the Brusån. This opens up different options for planning your trip: you can spend a day by the water, immerse yourself in the development of the village, or explore historic villages and buildings in the surrounding area. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home can therefore choose Hjältevad as a base for a varied trip according to their own interests.

Lake experiences at Hjälten

Lake Hjälten has a bathing area with a sandy beach. The bathing area in Hjältevad also includes a barbecue area and toilets. This makes it possible to combine time by the water with a self-organised meal, without having to limit the day to a single activity. There is also boat rental at the lake. There is also a boat-launching site on Strandvägen by the bathing area.

For anglers, Hjältevadsortens FVOF offers opportunities in three interconnected lakes. Lake Hjälten also has several easily accessible shore fishing spots suitable for float fishing and spinning. These different options help you choose your preferred pace of travel: those who like to stay on the shore can plan around the fishing spots, while those who want to experience the lake from the water can take boat rental or boat launching into account.

Local history between ford, railway and housing development

One defining historical site is located at Hjältevad’s old ford across the Bruzaån. A bridge still stands there today; the site has a clear connection to the origin and name of the village. The railway surroundings also tell of earlier routes taken by travellers. They include a station building, an outhouse and older buildings that served functions for travellers.

Klarvik is among the oldest buildings. The building dates from 1877 and is one of the three oldest buildings in Hjältevad. The residential areas with prefabricated houses from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s provide another perspective on the development of the village. They illustrate the importance and development of industry. The Hjältevadshus house factory is connected to Sweden’s expansive period of housing construction and to the increasing spread of prefabricated and catalogue houses since the 1960s.

The historic wooden houses are also part of the village landscape. They include ancillary buildings of considerable historical and experiential importance. Strandvägen and the eastern part of Storgatan also follow the former route of the main road between Eksjö and Vimmerby. Those who want to discover culture and local history not only in individual buildings but also in street layouts and residential areas will find several different starting points in Hjältevad.

Villages and landscape south of Hjältevad

South of Hjältevad lies Idekulla, an old linear village in an agricultural landscape. Stone and wooden fences, clearance cairns and deciduous trees shape the described landscape there. Börsebo, an old clustered village, is also located to the south. The two village forms create an interesting contrast with Hjältevad’s railway surroundings, historic wooden houses and industrially influenced residential areas.

National Road 40 runs north of Hjältevad. There is public transport between Eksjö and Mariannelund. When looking for accommodation, you can therefore consider whether your trip should be shaped primarily by the water, fishing, the local scenery or excursions in the surrounding area. A holiday apartment in Hjältevad suits plans that aim to combine these themes; a holiday home can likewise serve as an independent base for days by the lake and explorations of the historic surroundings.

Other village pages to compare

If you would like to compare other village pages before looking for accommodation, you can find Bellö, Värne, Höreda, Mariannelund, Hult, Ingatorp, Eksjö and Bruzaholm here.

To the higher-level travel overview: Eksjö.