Experience the archipelago feeling on the northern shores of Lake Vättern and follow the wings of history along the old mining track between Åmmeberg and Zinkgruvan.
This varied day trip offers beautiful nature reserves, rich cultural history and several opportunities for both coffee and swimming. You cycle on mixed surfaces through landscapes that alternate between lake views, forests, mining fields and mill communities.
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At the Harge uddar and Klåvudden nature reserves, you'll be greeted by rocky beaches and Norra Vättern's unique freshwater archipelago. There are trails for hiking, viewpoints and picnic areas - as well as great opportunities for swimming from the cliffs. Shortly afterwards, you pass Bastedalen harbor with the historic buildings of the brickworks.
Hargebaden, a kilometer-long sandy beach, is rightly called Närkes riviera. It has a temperate pool, restaurant, mini golf and shop, as well as camping, cottages and hostels. Next door, the Verkanäset nature reserve awaits - a hike out onto the cliffs of the archipelago. On the bike you then continue through a rolling landscape past Mårsäter farm, an old manor at the foot of Mårsäterberget.
In Mårsätter nature reserve, small paths lead through old large forest and up to mountainous heights with wide views. From here, the trail takes you on winding gravel roads through hilly terrain, where the forest opens up to farms and landscapes around Nedre Knalla.
Zinkgruvan is a community built around the mine, which has been in operation since the 19th century. At Knalla mine there is a working life museum with exhibitions, guided tours and demonstrations of old machines. Here you can ride the mine train and take a break in the restaurant. The village also has a kiosk, a frisbee pitch and a swimming area at Viksjön - a welcome break in the hilly terrain.
Along the old embankment, where the ore was once transported to Åmmeberg, you pass Dalbysjön, the village of Dalby and historic mining fields. Västerby mine dates back to the Middle Ages and signs tell of the tragic collapse in 1768. Garpa mine, with its cathedral-high walls, is today a dramatic open-cast mine and venue for open-air theater.
In Åmmeberg you will find the harbor, which for over a hundred years was the hub for the mine's shipping. There are historic industrial buildings, a Catholic cemetery from the 19th century and traces of international mining life. The community also offers a golf course, paddle, restaurant, guest harbor and services for those who want to stay a while.
The tour continues past Långvik and into Hammar, with its medieval church in an unusual stave style and a pier by the strait where the Vättern boats pass. From here, the trail turns back through the community, past Hammar's farm, Hotell Vätternterassen and on towards Bastedalen. At Bastedalen's manor house and harbor, the view of Lake Vättern and its meeting with the archipelago opens up again - a magnificent end to the round.
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