Näsåker – Rock Carvings, River Valley and Culture

Näsåker combines an impressive river landscape with an exceptional concentration of rock carvings and a vibrant cultural history. The village lies above Nämforsen on the edge of a deeply incised valley. The steep Nip slopes descend towards the Ångermanälven, giving a stay a distinct landscape character. If you are looking for a place with culture, nature and special excursion destinations for your holiday apartment or holiday home, Näsåker offers many different points of interest.

Rock Carvings and History at Nämforsen

The Nämforsen Rock Carving Museum explores the imagery of the Stone Age, the rock carvings at Nämforsen and rock paintings in the surrounding area. Nämforsen near Näsåker has Sweden’s largest rock-carving area by far; the rapids area contains approximately 2,600 registered rock carvings in total. Visitors can see the rock carvings at Nämforsen on Laxön and on the north bank.

For orientation on site, the visit follows a 25-metre-long staircase and wooden walkways approximately 1 metre wide, with railings. The mobile guide provides information about individual rock carvings, buildings and ancient sites. From 15 June to 15 August, the museum offers guided tours of the rock-carving area daily at 12:00 and 14:30. In addition, a free self-guided tour of the rock carvings at Nämforsen can be undertaken on site or from home using a mobile phone, tablet or computer.

River Landscapes, Trails and Water Experiences

In Näsåker’s Nip slopes, you can hike with views of Nämforsen and the Ångermanälven valley. The nearby Nävernäsan Nature Reserve offers another landscape perspective: From the car park, a boardwalk trail leads across Nävernäsmyran to Mount Nävernäsan. There you will find a former fire-watch tower from 1939, a rest cabin and a wind shelter with a barbecue area.

Water is also part of the village’s character. Per Hansviken is a bathing area on the Ångermanälven below the festival grounds and the Näsåker local heritage centre. For a weather-independent alternative, Näsåker swimming pool offers a sauna and a swimming pool. This allows you to choose between historical excursions, hikes and days by the water when planning your accommodation.

Urkult and Local Culture

Urkult is a festival in Näsåker focusing on cross-border cultural encounters. The first Urkult festival took place in Näsåker in 1995. The special atmosphere includes Eldnatten, Urkult’s opening ceremony, which takes place on the steep slope leading down to the dance floor in front of the main stage.

Families also find a specific point of reference there: Urkult’s Barnens marknad gives children the opportunity to take part in the festival market. At Urkult’s schyssta marknad, organic, locally produced and ethically fair goods are offered whenever possible. The Näsåker local heritage centre also includes a catering building, a bakery, a barn, storage buildings and a school museum. The site is located on Prästnipan.

Guidance for Choosing Your Accommodation

The centre of Näsåker stretches along Storgatan for approximately 600 metres. The village’s buildings follow the old road from Sollefteå to Ramsele, which is now called Storgatan and is extended by Pelle Molins väg. Näsåker Tourist Service is located at the Nämforsen Rock Carving Museum at Nipvägen 7; Näsåker’s citizens’ office and library are located at Storgatan 4.

If you are mainly planning to visit rock carvings and museums, these themes can form the focus of your trip. On other days, you can include hikes in the Nip slopes, the Per Hansviken bathing area or Näsåker swimming pool. Therefore, choose your holiday apartment according to the type of holiday you would like to create: focused on culture, landscapes, water or a festival as a special occasion.

For further searches on the portal, you can also visit the pages for Ramsele, Sollefteå, Långsele, Edsele, Helgum and Junsele.

Back to the overarching travel overview: Sollefteå.