Brastad – Rock Carvings, Via Sacra and Open Landscapes

Brastad can be explored through impressive rock carvings, historic architecture and open valley landscapes. Particularly characteristic are the rock carvings of Backa, the old village road Via Sacra and the Kvarnebäcken valley system. Families wishing to combine culture, activity and nature in their travels will find various starting points here for planning their trip.

Rock Carvings of Backa and Via Sacra

The rock carvings of Backa date from the Bronze Age and the earliest Iron Age, approximately from 1000 to 500 BC. There are more than 30 rock carvings there in total. The best-known depiction is Skomakaren, an almost two-metre-long human figure. Such specific motifs make a visit a journey into a distant era, without the rock carvings appearing merely as an abstract historical subject.

Via Sacra represents the combination of culture and activity. It runs along the old village road between Backa and Immestad. The high density of rock carvings gave the route its name: Via Sacra, the sacred way of the rock carvings. This provides an orientation for anyone who wants not only to view individual depictions but also to place the historical traces within the context of a route.

Brastad Church

Another cultural highlight is Brastad Church. It was built in 1876–1877 based on designs by Gustaf Dahl. Its design is inspired by the Middle Ages and has a strongly neo-Gothic character. Distinctive details include the façades made of exposed granite and the patterned slate roof.

Older history is also incorporated into the building: Two relief panels from Brastad's older medieval church were moved to the plinth area of the tower of the new church. Lysekil Parish invites visitors to get to know Brastad Church. For your travel planning, this visit can easily be considered a separate cultural highlight alongside the rock carvings.

Open Landscapes along Kvarnebäcken

The Kvarnebäcken valley system shapes an open, species-rich grazed valley landscape in and around the valley. North of Backa Farm, the valley system includes an open grazing landscape with undisturbed, species-rich vegetation. In some places, there are well-maintained grazing areas with species-rich dry slopes surrounded by arable land.

This landscape brings a quieter, more contemplative dimension to your stay.

Orientation for Your Travel Planning

From the Stångenäsvallen bus stop, it is 1.3 kilometres to the smaller rock-carving area at Backa and a further 800 metres to the larger area. These distances help you fit a visit to both areas into your daily itinerary. An additional practical landmark is the outdoor gym at Brastad Arena, located at Sågvägen 15 in Brastad; parking spaces are available in the immediate vicinity.

When choosing a holiday apartment, you can therefore consider which focus should define your stay: the rock carvings and Via Sacra, Brastad Church or the open grazing and valley landscapes. In this way, the different facets of the village create a suitable setting for shared discoveries and quieter days.

Discover More Places

For more ideas of places to visit, you can explore Bro as well as Torpet, Skalhamn, Brodalen, Lysekil, Fiskebäckskil and Grundsund.

To the higher-level travel overview: Lysekil.