Discover Handen: Rudan and Art

Discover Handen: Rudan, Trails and Art

Handen offers various ways to enjoy a trip where nature experiences, local history and art stand side by side. In the Rudan outdoor recreation area, Rudans friluftsbad is located on Övre Rudansjön. The large outdoor swimming area has a sandy beach and jetties. The Sörmlandsleden trail also passes through Rudan. Those who want to combine outdoor activities with cultural discoveries when planning their trip can take these different aspects into account when choosing accommodation in Handen.

A special way to get to know Rudan is offered by the Harspåret cultural trail. It passes several historically interesting places, where signposted information points out the particular features of each location. This means that the landscape is not the only focus: along the way, you can also explore historical connections and add a cultural perspective to your stay. For families who enjoy discovering new things together, this offers a different way to structure an outing than a day spent solely swimming or a longer hike.

The Rudan outdoor recreation area can be reached by commuter train to Handen station. From there, the route continues directly via the southern exit. You can take this specific travel option into account when choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home and want to make Rudan an important part of your trip.

Art in the Townscape and at the Cultural Centre

At Stora Arkens torg in Handen, the artistic installation Museum för offentliga ting transforms a square into a museum of public objects. Benches, trees and a waste bin from different parts of the world are part of this work. It is precisely this unusual combination that makes the square a destination for anyone who does not look for art exclusively in exhibition spaces. You can include this location as a brief cultural focus in your daily plans while paying closer attention to seemingly everyday objects.

Behind the cultural centre in Handen, Anna Lidberg’s light installation Återsken extends across impressive pine trees, rock crevices, hidden corners in the rock and large stones. A specially composed soundtrack was created for this light work. Anna Lidberg collaborated with musician Jon Ekström (Dödsvarg); his newly written music accompanies the work and guides visitors between its various parts in the park. Those travelling with children can choose an experience here in which not only sight but also hearing plays a role.

The cultural centre also houses Haninge konsthall. Contemporary art by local and international artists is shown there. Together with Återsken, this creates a cultural programme with different forms of expression: the light installation incorporates the park, rock and trees, while the konsthall presents contemporary art in the exhibition space. Which stop you prefer therefore depends more on your interests than on a uniform visiting pattern.

Local History at Handens museum

Handens museum is located in a relocated and rebuilt torp near the centre of Haninge and is dedicated to local history. The museum includes a smithy. Craft courses are also offered there. This makes it possible to plan a visit with different focuses: you can explore the history of the area, include the smithy or schedule a craft course as an experience in its own right.

The development of Handen is also connected to transport history. Österhaninge railway station was established near this junction in 1901 and renamed Handen station in 1913. This historical connection explains part of Handen’s development without reducing the town to its transport function. Today, the station is also the named access point for continuing to the Rudan outdoor recreation area.

Which Accommodation Suits Your Trip

When looking for a holiday apartment in Handen, it is worth first determining the pace you want for your trip. If Rudan, the outdoor swimming area at Övre Rudansjön, the Harspåret cultural trail or the Sörmlandsleden trail are your main interests, you can use the connection to Handen station and the southern exit as specific points of reference for your planning. If you are primarily looking for culture, the Handens museum, Haninge konsthall, Museum för offentliga ting and Återsken offer different destinations. This way, you choose your accommodation not according to a generalised idea of the area, but according to the experiences that are meant to shape your stay.

You can continue planning your trip here for other places in the same selection: Österhaninge, Tungelsta, Västerhaninge, Vendelsö, Ornö, Utö, Dalarö and Haninge.

To the overarching travel overview: Haninge.