Billingsfors: Lake, Locks and Culture

Billingsfors is located right on Lake Laxsjön, and the Dalsland Canal runs through the town. A wooden church, a lock station and an open-air theatre offer concrete cultural and historical points of interest; nature reserves and trails add outdoor activities to the mix. When looking for a holiday apartment, you can first consider whether culture and water or hiking, cycling and nature experiences should shape your holiday more.

Canal and locks in Billingsfors

The Billingsfors lock station consists of two single locks that lead from Lake Laxsjön to Bengtsbrohöljen. The lower single lock is located right next to the paper mill. Together with the Dalsland Canal, which runs through Billingsfors, it offers a clear picture of the water connection between the two bodies of water. Those interested in the canal will find more than just a name on the map here: they will also find a clearly described sequence of locks.

Billingsfors Church on an island

Billingsfors Church stands on an island in Lake Laxsjön, connected to the mainland by an iron bridge. The wooden church building was constructed between 1761 and 1763. Today, the chancel houses an 18th-century positive organ. The island setting, bridge and building history offer different points of interest: they situate the church in the lake while also telling the story of the building’s historic furnishings.

An open-air theatre with a long history

At Billingsholm, there is an open-air theatre that is more than 100 years old and was built in 1792. It has 200 seats and continues to be used by local music and theatre associations for concerts and performances. This means that a stage, as well as a church, is part of Billingsfors’s cultural landscape. If you would like to include a performance in your travel plans, check in advance whether an event is scheduled for your travel dates.

Nature reserves and trails around the lake

Ösan Nature Reserve lies east of Billingsfors on a peninsula in Lake Laxsjön. It has easy-to-walk trails and a bathing area, and is also easy to reach by canoe. To get there from Billingsfors, turn off Road 172 north of the lock towards Strandvägen and follow Strandvägen to the end. This makes it possible to plan a visit to the reserve either on foot or from the water.

The Brända Berget hiking trail is listed as 9 or 11 km long and passes the Dalsland Canal and the Höljerudsforsarna rapids. Near Billingsfors, the Höljerudsforsarna and the slope to the east together form a nature reserve of about 45 ha. For cyclists, a cycle path runs between Billingsfors and Bengtsfors along the west side of Bengtsbrohöljen. Trout, pike and perch are caught in Lake Laxsjön near Billingsfors. There are several activities to choose from: a trail with two stated lengths, a cycle route along Bengtsbrohöljen, or fishing in the lake.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Ödskölt, Dals Långed, Bäckefors, Gustavsfors, Bengtsfors.

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