Holiday apartment in Månstad: Culture, lakes and cycle paths

Månstad combines an open agricultural landscape with lakes, historic traces and cycle paths. The area is particularly well illustrated by the Månstad cultural heritage area [P 56], whose landscape is of great scientific value and reflects Iron Age land use as well as the emergence of the village community in south-western Sweden.

Culture and history

The cultural heritage area includes extensive fossilised arable land with strip-divided fields, clearance cairns and stone rows. Scattered burial sites from the Bronze and Iron Ages, a medieval church and well-preserved farm buildings complete this historic landscape. Present-day Månstad Church was built towards the end of the 15th century, after a wooden church built there in the 13th century had burned down several centuries later. The church contains a 12th-century sandstone baptismal font, which returned to the church in 1954.

Månstad Church stands on a hill beside the paved railway embankment that runs through Månstad. On a hill immediately north of the church, beside the cycle path, stands Månstad’s only runestone. Its inscription commemorates Grinulf, the son of Ingwald. The runestone was discovered when Månstad bridge was reconstructed towards the end of the 19th century.

Cycle paths and landscape

The Ulricehamn–Tranemo section of the Ätradalsleden mostly follows a car-free railway embankment. In Månstad, the route passes through a predominantly open agricultural landscape with farms. At the Månstad station area along the Ätradalsleden, there is a barbecue shelter where you can take a coffee break.

The Ulricehamn–Tranemo section of the Sjuhäradsrundan cycle route is also clearly defined at 43 km. The Sjuhäradsrundan passes through the centre of Månstad, which mainly consists of agricultural land and farms. There is also a shower at the Månstad station area along the Sjuhäradsrundan. Månstad has a Mini Naturum; the historic Oxabanan trail is 17 km long and runs from Limmared via Tången and Hofsnäs.

Nature and water

Sämån, also called Månstadsån on maps, carries the water of Södra Sämsjön through the parishes of Månstad and Södra Åsarp to Tranemosjön. Lake Sämsjön lies between Vegby and Månstad; part of the lake is in Tranemo Municipality and the other part in Ulricehamn.

Månstad Mini Naturum can be reached via an approximately 300-metre-long boardwalk across a bog. The boardwalk is suitable for wheelchair users, and Månstad Mini Naturum offers views of Lake Sämsjön and the adjacent agricultural land. The formerly waterlogged bog and marsh areas now offer beautiful views over the surrounding area.

There is a public bathing area at Södra Sämsjön in Månstad. It has grassy areas, a long jetty, benches and changing rooms. In Månstad, one of the two lakes offers good opportunities for swimming and fishing.

Bakery and café in Sibbarp

There is a bakery with a café in Sibbarp in Månstad. Sibbarps Gårdsbageri hand-bakes sourdough bread, rolls and croissants in small batches. From Wednesday to Friday, visitors can see what has been freshly baked that day and sit outside when the weather is suitable.

More local pages: Månstad, Tibro, Tvärred, Ulricehamn, Borås, Svaneholm, Strömstad, Töreboda.

To the broader travel overview: Västra Götaland.