Forests and lakes in Lerbäck

Your journey begins at PerOlofGården, a building dating back to the 18th century. The building has been a poorhouse, an epidemic hospital and an old people's home, before it became a hotel. Here you will also find Lerbäck's labyrinth, created by dense beech hedges in winding paths - a perfect starting point for the bike ride.

At Lerbäck church, the story of the oxen that determined the location of the church is told. There is also the homestead with old buildings such as the parish warehouse and nail smithy, as well as the former inn where Lerbäck's theater today conducts professional activities all year round. A living cultural center in the middle of the village.

Here you cycle along the tracks of the old narrow-gauge railroad from the 1870s. In the beginning, the train was pulled by oxen, before the steam locomotive took over. Remnants of the embankment and loading berths remain, reminiscent of a time when the railroad linked the forests and farms of the Bergslagen region.

The small village of Släte is mentioned as early as the 16th century. There was a mine, mill, sawmill and trading post here. The village also had a railroad bridge and a loading dock linked to timber transport. Today, Släte is a quiet place where history still makes itself felt.

Rude was once a lively village with several mines, mills and its own school. Up to 91 people lived here, and everyday life was characterized by both farming and ironworking. Today, it is a peaceful place to stop and think about the generations that lived and worked here.

Närkesberg, formerly known as Östra Lerbäck, consists of many small villages and crofts. The area has long been characterized by small-scale farming and forestry, and the distance to central towns created a strong local community. The sense of history and community life is still evident here.

Konsum opened in 1915 and remained open for almost 90 years. The building still exists and, like many other buildings in Närkesberg, has the characteristic star windows in the attic. There is a restaurant and café nearby - perfect for a break on the tour.

Mariedamm was named in the 17th century after the two wives of Jean De Geer, the patron of the mill, who were both named Maria. The site has a long history of use and is an integral part of the area's industrial heritage.

The preserved mill in Trehörning is unique in Örebro County and one of few in Sweden. Here, ore was smelted into iron and the smelter tells the story of the important mining industry that characterized the village for several centuries. In summer, you can have coffee at the small coffee house next door.

Runsala offers deciduous forests, old pastures and a mighty ravine. The impressive Runsala oak grows here, with a circumference of over five meters. The reserve is also rich in mushrooms and traces of old settlements.

Rönneshytta has been a mill town since the Middle Ages and has traces of iron production that are over 2000 years old. In the 19th century, the community grew around the sawmill, which in its time provided work for almost the entire village. Today, you can still feel the presence of history at the dam and the old buildings.

The department store in Rönneshytta is something out of the ordinary. Since the end of the 19th century, the store has been a central meeting place, and here you can still find "everything between heaven and earth". A unique heritage of entrepreneurship that still lives on.

Spånbrokällan, or Trefaldighetskällan, is an old sacrificial spring that has attracted people for centuries. This is where the local people used to meet to sacrifice, dance and celebrate, and people still gather here for meetings of the local community association. The water is said to be beneficial to health - and no visit is complete without tasting it.