Ankarsrum: Industrial History, Trails and Lakes

Ankarsrum combines a multifaceted industrial history with lakes, hiking trails and special places to explore. If you are looking for a mix of culture, activity and water for your trip, you can get to know Ankarsrum through these different experiences and choose your accommodation according to the aspects that matter most to you.

Industrial history in Bruksparken and at the church

Ankarsrums bruk was founded in 1655, after formal royal permission had been granted to build a blast furnace. Its location between the lakes Långsjön and Hällsjön made it possible to use hydropower for the works. This history is visible in several places: Bruksparken is home to Aktiveum®, an industrial museum that reflects various periods in the history of Ankarsrums bruk. Guided tours of the industrial museum and Bruksparken are offered during opening hours or by arrangement.

Ankarsrums kyrka also tells the story of the local industrial history. It was completed in 1896 and is built entirely of slag stone, a by-product of iron production in Ankarsrum. Bruksparken is also home to a monument erected in 1955 by the artist Erik Reimhult to mark the 300th anniversary of Ankarsrums bruk. There is also a bust of the artist Harald Wiberg, who was born in Ankarsrum. According to tradition, the cast-iron statue Bedjande gosse was cast in Ankarsrum in the 1850s.

Hiking trails of different lengths

Several different routes are available for active days. The Ankarsrumsslingan is 11.9 km long and is intended both for circular walks and as a connection to longer hikes on the Tjustleden. In the Ankarsrum area, the Tjustleden passes through Bruksparken. The Ankarsrumsslingan passes the foundations of the Isgöhleströms Manufakturverk, popularly known as Spiksmedjan; the walls are made of slag stone. North of the watercourse at Isgölen, the Ankarsrumsslingan connects to the Tjustleden.

A shorter option is the Ankarsrum-Xrundan. It starts at the railway station building and is approximately 3.4 kilometres long. This allows you to plan a more compact route, while the Ankarsrumsslingan offers more distance and the connection to the Tjustleden provides a different hiking format.

Lakes, a bathing area and museums at Långsjön

Ankarsrum’s municipal bathing area at Långsjön has lawns and a sandy beach. There is also a ramp for people with disabilities. Ankarsrums Hembygdsmuseum is located on the shore of Långsjön along Kungsvägen. The museum houses folk artefacts and some iron objects. Anyone who wants to plan a day combining local history, a museum visit and time by the water will find several different places to visit for their trip planning.

Ankarsrum as a starting point for exploration

The Hultsfred–Västervik narrow-gauge railway is also part of the local landscape. The 70-kilometre railway serves Ankarsrum station, is designated as a listed building and is considered an important Swedish industrial monument. The station is also the starting point for the approximately 3.4-kilometre Ankarsrum-Xrundan. When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday house, you can therefore consider whether you want to focus on the industrial history, the trails, Långsjön or the combination of these themes.

Another historical perspective is offered by the digital cemetery tour “Kyrkogården berättar”, which has also been available at Ankarsrum cemetery since the All Saints’ weekend in 2021. For further location options, you can also look at Totebo, Gunnebo, Överum, Gamleby, Blackstad, Västervik, Edsbruk and Hjorted.

To the overarching travel overview: Västervik.