Discover Askersund: Culture, Nature and Water

Askersund combines historic townscapes with nature and water experiences. In the municipal Stadsparken nature reserve near the town centre, woodland and Lake Alsen meet. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Askersund can put together very different itineraries here: walks and culture, swimming and paddling, or excursions with children.

Nature, paths and water around Askersund

A 1.4 km accessible circular trail runs through the Stadsparken area. Five hidden geocaches add an extra element of discovery to the route. The waterfront promenade begins at the harbour of Askersund and crosses a pedestrian bridge to the island of Borgmästareholmen. There is a bathing spot with a shallow sandy beach in a small bay, as well as a walking area with a small playground and barbecue area.

Other opportunities for swimming and paddling are also part of the town’s character. Hagabadet is located near the central districts and has jetties, a sandy beach, changing rooms and toilet facilities. The “Vildmarken runt udden” paddling route is suitable for canoes and kayaks and takes approximately one hour. It starts at the kayak bridge on Borgmästareholmen, follows the shore past Kulturhuset Sjöängen and continues into Djupviken at Edö. The “Dohnaforsån – Bäversafari” route can be started at Borgmästareholmen or Husabergsudde and leads into the Dohnaforsån. There are good chances of getting close to wildlife in the direction of Lindbomossen.

Historic places and vibrant culture

Askersund offers several starting points for exploring cultural history. Sofia-Magdalena Church was built in 1778–1780 after an older wooden church was destroyed in a town fire. Parts of its Rococo style have been preserved. Landskyrkan at the southern entrance to Askersund was completed in 1670 and is considered an example of the monumental architecture of Sweden’s age as a great power.

Askersunds hembygdsgård was inaugurated in 1933. The site includes several historic buildings that were relocated there from the area around Askersund. The site is located on the outskirts of the town, or directly by Askersund, and is open year-round as a walking area; from there, there is a view of Lake Alsen. In summer, it has a mini-zoo with sheep, goats, chickens, ducks and rabbits. In summer, the Minitåget train runs from the harbour to Askersunds hembygdsgård.

Since 2007, Olle Widell has been leading historical walks through Askersund. In groups, he explains what the town looked like in the 16th and 17th centuries and how people lived at that time. Askersunds konsthall presents exhibitions with a great thematic variety throughout the year. Numerous events take place at Kulturhuset Sjöängen over the course of a year. South of the building stands the sculpture group “Insikt – Utsikt”, whose individual parts can be used as play areas or seating. Strandparken is also home to “Hemfärd”, a 110 cm tall bronze sculpture of a Råbock. The work was completed in 1996 and moved from the harbour to Strandparken in autumn 2022; a Råbock was a type of ship that formerly sailed on Lake Vättern.

Excursions for different holiday days

Askersund can be experienced in very different ways depending on your interests. For active days, there are short and long cycling routes through varied terrain, as well as cycle orienteering with signposted checkpoints. More peaceful hours can be spent walking by the water, swimming or paddling. With “Trulsan & Pricken”, groups can travel to islands in the archipelago of northern Lake Vättern to swim, barbecue or go for walks. The Trulsan boat can be rented by groups of up to 12 people. Boats travelling through the archipelago of northern Lake Vättern call at the guest harbour in Askersund.

Cultural destinations are also available in changeable weather. Current films are shown in the Great Hall of Kulturhuset Sjöängen. Tickets for cinema screenings can be bought in advance online or at the box office at the entrance. The Antikmarknad in Askersund is a regularly held event with 140 exhibitors and market stalls extending for around one kilometre.

The right base for planning your trip

When looking for a holiday apartment in Askersund, it helps to decide in advance what you want to focus on during your holiday. Those wishing to combine nature and walks can take Stadsparken, Borgmästareholmen and the surrounding paths into account when planning their stay. For culture-oriented days, there are churches, historical walks, the Hembygdsgård and the Konsthall to choose from. Families can consider bathing spots, play areas, the summer mini-zoo and film screenings. This way, the choice of accommodation can be tailored to your personal rhythm between water, history, activity and relaxation.

For further orientation on this page, you can also view Zinkgruvan, Åsbro, Aspabruk, Mariedamm, Olshammar, Motala, Hammar and Åmmeberg.

To the main travel overview: Askersund.