Discover Brastad

Brastad offers several clearly distinct themes to help you plan your trip: the prehistoric rock carvings at Backa, the old village road of Via Sacra, Brastad Church and the agricultural landscape in the Kvarnebäcken valley system. If you are looking for a hotel in Brastad, these highlights can help you tailor your stay to your interests. Backa represents rock art and its historical context, while the church offers architectural history; the valley system provides a different perspective on the agriculturally shaped landscape.

Rock carvings at Backa and Via Sacra

The Backa rock carvings date from the Bronze Age and the earliest Iron Age, approximately from 1000 to 500 BC. There are more than 30 rock carvings there in total. The best-known is Skomakaren, a human figure almost two metres long. At almost two metres, the size of this figure is easy to appreciate, while the number of more than 30 conveys the extent of the rock art at Backa.

Via Sacra runs along the old village road between Backa and Immestad. It was given its name because of the high concentration of rock carvings: Via Sacra means the sacred path of the rock carvings. Backa is therefore notable both for individual motifs and for the concentration of rock art, while the route's name reflects its connection to the old village road.

Distances from the Stångenäsvallen bus stop are also clearly provided to help you find the rock carvings: it is 1.3 kilometres on foot to the smaller Backa rock-carving area, and a further 800 metres to the larger area. These two figures make it easier to estimate the walking distance.

Brastad Church

Brastad Church was built in 1876–1877 to designs by Gustaf Dahl. Its medieval-inspired architecture has a distinctly Neo-Gothic character, with exposed granite façades and a patterned slate roof. The date and style give the church a clearly defined architectural theme for your stay.

Two relief panels from Brastad's older medieval church were moved to the plinth of the tower of the new church. They provide a tangible link to the older church within the later building. Lysekil Parish invites you to visit Brastad Church; check access arrangements in advance.

The Kvarnebäcken valley system and other points of interest

In and around the Kvarnebäcken valley system near Brastad lies an open, species-rich valley landscape used for grazing. North of Backa farm, the valley system includes open pastureland with undisturbed, species-rich vegetation. In places, there are well-maintained pastures with species-rich dry slopes surrounded by arable land. For visitors interested in the cultural landscape as well as archaeology, the open pastures and dry slopes offer a different focus from the rock art and the church.

Another useful point of reference is the outdoor gym at Brastad Arena, at Sågvägen 15 in Brastad. Parking is nearby.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Bro, Lysekil, Skalhamn, Fiskebäckskil, Brodalen, Torpet, Grundsund.

For the broader travel overview: Lysekil.