Quiet days in the Glass Kingdom

Take a step away from everyday life and straight into the deep forests and rich cultural heritage of the Glass Kingdom. This bike package is for you who want to discover nature at your own pace, but also follow the traces of one of Småland's most important industries, the glassworks. The tour starts and ends in Målerås and goes via Alstermo and Fröseke to Alsterbro and on to Orrefors. It can be booked during spring and fall, when everything is a little calmer, a little quieter and perhaps even more atmospheric.

You cycle through landscapes that once pulsated with glowing furnaces and crafts. Alsterbro used to be home to Alsterbro Glassworks, where everyday glass was once produced in abundance. In Orrefors you will find the place where Swedish glass art became world famous, and even though the factory is closed, exhibitions and stories remain. In Målerås, the glass furnaces are still hot. Here you can see skilled craftsmen breathing new life into the tradition, at one of the most vibrant glassworks still in existence.

The accommodations along the way have their own stories: a former police station in Alsterbro, a classic hotel in Orrefors, and a charming old railway hotel from 1890 in Målerås. The tour runs on both asphalt and gravel roads in mixed traffic, and is suitable for those who want to cycle at a leisurely pace - with time to stop, breathe and take in both nature and history. There are some rooms where you can bring your dog, more information will be given when you make your booking.

Day 1 - Arrival and cycling to Alsterbro

hotelAlsterbro Minihotell, Alsterbro

restaurantPacked lunch and evening meal

directions_bikeAbout 35 km

Your cycling experience in Glasriket starts with a quiet first day. After arriving in Målerås, a shorter stage of about 35 km awaits, where you roll through quiet Småland forests, past glades and sparkling small lakes. The journey is mostly on smaller gravel roads and asphalt in low-traffic areas.

You'll arrive in the small community of Alsterbro, where you'll check into the personal and charming Alsterbro Minihotell, housed in an old police station.
Here you can rest in a peaceful environment, and if you want to stretch your legs, there is a walking path that leads you to the site where the old Alsterbro glassworks once stood. Alsterbro Glasbruk is the oldest preserved wooden hut in the Glass Kingdom and glass was produced here until 1969 (for 98 years). There is a very good swimming area a few minutes from the hotel at Stora Hindsjön.

Day 2 - Cycling from Alsterbro to Orrefors

hotelOrrefors Hotel & Restaurant, Orrefors

restaurantBreakfast, packed lunch and evening meal

directions_bikeAbout 30 km

After breakfast, you cycle on towards Orrefors, a distance of about 30 km through a varied landscape of forests, lakes and farms. You pass small villages where glassworks once flourished - places that today are quieter, but still breathe mill culture in buildings and environments.

Once in Orrefors, you'll have the chance to learn more about one of the Kingdom's most iconic names. This used to be the site of the Orrefors glassworks, known worldwide for its art glass and designers. The factory closed in 2013, but the visitor center, artistic activities and a living history remain. A new cabin was established in 2017 under the name Orranäs Glassworks in Orrefors Park, where you have the opportunity to see how the masters shape the glass mass into their designed products. In the Creperiet you can take the opportunity to have coffee.

Another tip is to visit Hammarsmedjan, where the water wheel, blowing machine and smelting hammer have been recreated after 100 years in hibernation. You stay at Orrefors Hotell, a classic Småland hotel close to nature and history.

Day 3 - Orrefors to Målerås - the glass lives on

hotelMålerås Bed & Breakfast, Målerås

restaurantBreakfast, packed lunch and evening meal

directions_bikeAbout 25 km

Today you cycle through the heart of the Glasriket. The roads wind through quiet spruce forests, open fields and past lakes that reflect the sky. The cycling between Orrefors and Målerås can be varied, you get maps showing alternative routes.
An alternative is to cycle to Gullaskruv, another old glassmaking community where you can visit Carlo's studio glassworks.

The final destination of the day is Målerås, a mill town where glass is still alive. Here is Målerås Glassworks, one of the few major factories that are active today. You have the opportunity to see the glass craftsmanship up close, from kiln to finished work of art, or browse in the shop where modern design meets tradition. At Målerås Läder you will find unique Swedish crafts, well worth a visit. Accommodation is at Målerås Bed & Breakfast, a charming and newly renovated railway hotel from 1890, with its own history worth discovering.

Day 4 - Quiet morning in Målerås and return journey

restaurantBreakfast

The last day starts at a leisurely pace. You can choose to take a short bike ride in the surroundings, or just enjoy the tranquility and a good breakfast. Maybe a hike "In the footsteps of the ice age through Gråstensmon" 7 km with the center of the Glass Kingdom or "Trollstigen" 2 km around Målerås bathing lake Långegöl.

When you feel ready, round off your journey through the Glasriket - full of impressions from both nature and culture, with three quiet cycling days in the luggage.