Discover Braås: Örken, nature, and cycling routes

Get to know Braås from several perspectives: Örken, protected landscapes, cycling activities, and local history. If you’re planning a hotel stay, you can start by considering whether the lakeshore, trails, cycling, or culture matters most to you. The places and activities differ considerably in what they put at the heart of a visit.

Landscape and traces of earlier use

To the east, the Braås Park Nature Reserve is bordered by Örken, with a four-kilometre shoreline. The protected area covers former arable land and meadows belonging to Braås gård. As you walk, you can see remnants of the estate’s former park, including buildings, memorial stones, and avenues of trees. The landscape thus combines protected areas with visible traces of their earlier use.

Sjösås äng Nature Reserve offers a different perspective on the landscape: it includes former hay meadows with visible old fields and clearance cairns. The northern part is mown by hand with a scythe every year to preserve its distinctive flora. Here, features of the meadows reveal the difference between their former cultivation and their present-day management.

Örken: swimming area and lakeside path

The Braås bathing area on Örken has a sandy beach, a floating jetty, a playground, changing rooms, and water toilets. These are the facilities available directly at the bathing area. If you’re planning to spend time by the water, you’ll find changing facilities and a playground as well as the beach.

Braås strandpromenad offers a different perspective on the lake. In the western part of Braås, this scenic, narrow gravel path runs along Örken to the Braås Park Nature Reserve. The promenade includes a steamboat pier with wide views over Örken’s bays and islands. While the listed facilities are a focus at the bathing area, the lakeside route and the view from the pier shape the experience on the path.

Cycling on a variety of routes

Braås Bikepark has kilometres of well-maintained, playfully designed cycling trails in the Småland forest landscape. The routes vary in difficulty: there are quieter trails and easier obstacles for families and beginners, as well as more technically challenging sections for experienced cyclists. You can choose between the described routes depending on whether you prefer a more relaxed ride or technical challenges.

Braås pump track offers a different kind of cycling. It covers 1,350 square metres and has a 190-metre loop. It can be used with bicycles, skateboards, kick scooters, or inline skates. While the bike park centres on kilometres of cycling trails, the pump track is defined by its loop and the variety of permitted equipment.

A trail for walks, running, and cross-country skiing

Braås elljusspår is about 1.4 kilometres long and has a rolling terrain. It is intended for walking, running, and cross-country skiing. Its approximate length and profile give you a clear idea of the trail; its purpose also distinguishes it from the cycling activities and the lakeside path. When planning activities in Braås, you can choose between walking in the nature reserve, doing a lap on the elljusspår, and riding the bike park’s trails.

Local history at Braås Hembygdspark

The buildings and collections of the local heritage association at Braås Hembygdspark have been rebuilt and restored as a living museum. Historical buildings and collections are the focus here, while the nature reserves and trails reveal other aspects of the landscape. For trip planning, Hembygdspark adds a distinct cultural and historical dimension to the options for enjoying the water and being active.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Värends Nöbbele, Jät, Rottne, Lammhult, Ör, Gemla, Vederslöv, Ingelstad.

Back to the main travel overview: Växjö.