Småland Tour on Two Wheels through Glasriket

Cycling in Glasriket is a real nature experience. Småland is Sweden's most forested landscape, so one moment you find yourself in magical forests, as in a painting by John Bauer, parts of the route are almost wilderness along the trail, and the next moment you look out over open farmland. You cycle through typical Småland farming villages, past crofts and farms. Almost every community you cycle through has had a glassworks. Today there are only a couple of glassworks and about ten studio glassworks left.

This cycling package is suitable for those who want to experience Småland's nature and cultural history. There is a rich wildlife and good fishing waters, including in Alsterån and Stora Hindsjön. The trip goes both on paved roads and on gravel roads in mixed traffic. The first night you stay at Alsterbro Minihotell, housed in the former police station. There are five guest rooms, a lounge and a kitchen, all with private toilet and shower, Wifi and TV. The second night you stay at Målerås Bed & Breakfast, Målerås old railway hotel from 1890.

Don't miss hiking seven km through Gråstensmon (Målerås) with experiences from the Ice Age to the present. Here you will find the center of the Glass Kingdom - a stone cairn called Lindekulla länsmärke on Roman's map from 1698. Within a radius of 20 km, most of the glassworks that exist or have existed in the Glass Kingdom are housed. The site has been chosen to pay tribute to some of the craftsmen who made Målerås and Glasriket well known in the 20th century.

You cycle at your own pace along village roads and old country lanes with low traffic, but there is cycling for shorter distances on busier roads to get to and from the low-traffic road network. Map and detailed route description included in the package. You can choose to arrive the day before the start of your bike tour and stay overnight at Målerås Bed & Breakfast, or to arrive the same day. The advantage of arriving the day before is that you can read through the route descriptions and go through the maps before the bike ride. You can then also prepare your lunch package in connection with breakfast. 

If you arrive in the evening, Målerås Bistro has left the evening meal to Målerås Bed & Breakfast so you can heat it in their microwave at a time that suits you. If you want to experience the Glassworks with glass blowing and crystal shop, the Craft House and the Leather Factory shop in Målerås, we recommend that you arrive earlier during the day or book an extra night after completing the bike ride.

Day 1 - Målerås - Alstermo - Fröseke - Alsterbro

Alsterbro Mini Hotel

Packed lunch and evening meal

about 40 km

The tour starts and ends in Målerås and goes via Alstermo and Fröseke to Alsterbro. Parts of the route you cycle follow Alsterån. From Alstermo to Bockaskruvs nature reserve you can cycle on an old railway bank to Fröseke and in Hinkaryds nature reserve there is a 250-year-old coniferous mixed forest with very tall trees. During the bike ride you have a view of Alsterån, waterfalls and Stora Hindsjön. A cooling dip in the lake is a perfect end to today's bike ride.

At Alsterbro Minihotell you stay in the converted police station, which has five comfortable rooms with their own shower and toilet. In the beautiful Hindsjön you can also fish for perch, pike or pikeperch and it is rumored that there are old pike of up to 8.5 kg swimming around in the lake and waiting. You can buy a fishing license at Coop Nära in Alsterbro. You can eat your evening meal at the pizzeria, next door to the Minihotel.

Day 2 - Alsterbro - Orrefors - Målerås

Målerås Bed & Breakfast

Breakfast, packed lunch and evening meal

about 40 km

The tour starts in Alsterbro and goes via Stensjön and Orrefors to Målerås for overnight stay. You cycle on forest roads and in open terrain and pass the nature reserve Stensjön, idyllic Gadderås and on to Orrefors. Here you will find a shop, eateries and glassblowing. If you are lucky, the water wheel spins in the old hammer forge. Further to Målerås you cycle on the old railway embankment (Nybro-Nässjö) via Hälleberga and Gullaskruv.

There is an alternative route between Gadderås and Hälleberga where you pass farm villages, beautiful meadows, fences, older barns and dwelling houses with carpenter's joy.

Accommodation is at Målerås hostel and B&B, which is housed in the newly renovated railway hotel from 1890. A breakfast buffet is served every morning. In the immediate area there are excellent hiking areas and several lakes with good fishing. If you feel like further cycling, you can try a MTB tour in the forest.

Day 3 - Experience Målerås Glassworks

Breakfast

After breakfast, enjoy the fascinating spectacle of watching the glowing mass of glass being formed into magnificent crystal sculptures of different characters.

In Målerås you can also buy crystal products and jewelry, and in Hantverkshuset eight local craftsmen are represented. Check the opening hours for Kristallshopen and Hantverkshuset at www.maleras.se. Information about Läderfabrikens shop can be found at www.maleraslader.com.