Discover Västra Tunhem

Västra Tunhem combines a well-preserved cultural landscape with hiking trails, historic buildings and archaeological traces. At the foot of Hunneberg, nature and cultural experiences can be combined without limiting your trip planning to a single activity. Those looking for an apartment or holiday home can choose between landscape, trails and history as the focus of their stay.

Cultural landscape and trails at Hunneberg

Tunhems ekhagar is a well-preserved cultural landscape at the foot of Hunneberg and part of the Natura 2000 network of protected areas. The Västra Tunhem Trail passes through a landscape with older houses, archaeological remains, oak pastures and lime kilns. The limestone pits of Västra Tunhem preserve traces of the shale and limestone quarrying that was carried out at the foot of Hunneberg for many centuries.

For your journey and route planning on site, you can use the car park at Västra Tunhems kyrka, Kyrkstigen, the old Trollhättan–Vargön road and the charging stations as points of reference. The car park at Västra Tunhems kyrka is a suitable starting point for the Västra Tunhem Trail. Kyrkstigen runs between Vargön and Västra Tunhem. Tunhems ekhagar is easiest to reach via the old Trollhättan–Vargön road. There are also charging stations for electric vehicles at Västra Tunhems kyrka. Visitors to the burial grounds of Tunhem should park in designated spaces, as the grounds are privately owned.

Church, vicarage and local history

Västra Tunhems kyrka dates back to the 12th century. Parts of the oldest section of the Västra Tunhem cemetery have also been in use since the 12th century. A special addition to exploring the area independently is the Kyrkogårdsvandring in Västra Tunhem: it uses twelve QR-code stations at the church and in the cemetery.

Västra Tunhems prästgård dates from the 1720s and still has many old outbuildings. It is rented out for stays of one day or one week. It is also important for trip planning that the façade of Västra Tunhems kyrka will be renovated from May through autumn 2026. Take this period into account when planning your stay.

The landscape’s former uses are also visible. Industrial limestone production at Hunneberg continued from the late 18th century until the last lime burning in the 1950s. Those interested in this development can make the limestone pits and the historic traces along the described cultural landscape the focus of a day trip.

Burial grounds and archaeological discoveries

The Forstena burial grounds are located in wooded areas on a ridge and today comprise around 20 graves, mainly burial mounds and stone settings. A large monument to the military commander Lennart Torstensson, erected in 1903, stands on one of the largest burial mounds. At Rånnums ekdungar, there are around 50 round stone settings and five cup marks carved into stones. Alongside hiking trails and architectural history, these sites offer the trip an additional archaeological perspective.

In summer, cattle graze on the burial grounds of Tunhem. Västra Tunhems hembygdsförening organises numerous events throughout the year, mainly held at the Hembygdsgård in Västra Tunhem. The association took over the former South School as its Hembygdsgård. Local association and event traditions can therefore also form part of a possible travel itinerary.

The right accommodation for planning your trip

When looking for holiday accommodation in Västra Tunhem, you can first consider which experiences should shape your days. If you prefer hikes and landscapes, the Västra Tunhem Trail, Tunhems ekhagar and Kyrkstigen can form the focus of your trip planning. For days centred on cultural history, the church, cemetery, prästgård, limestone pits and burial grounds take centre stage. The documented rental of Västra Tunhems prästgård for one day or one week is specific accommodation information; no further details on amenities or availability are available for trip planning.

If you would like to view pages for other locations besides Västra Tunhem, you can find Ekenäs, Brålanda, Vargön, Frändefors and Vänersborg here.

To the higher-level travel overview: Vänersborg.