Mellerud between Lake Vänern, the canal and cultural heritage

Mellerud is part of the Dalsland region on the western shore of Lake Vänern. In the municipality, the landscape stretches from Kroppefjäll in the west to the lake in the east, with forests, lakes, canal landscapes and open plains in between. Water, cultural sites and trails give a trip here a variety of themes.

Canals, water and the history of technology

The Dalsland Canal is open to boat traffic every year from June to August. In Håverud, the Håverud Aqueduct shows how a canal-building challenge was overcome: soft rock and a deep, ravine-like valley had made construction difficult. There is also a railway bridge and a road bridge at the same location. The Canal Museum in Håverud presents the history of the canal and life along rivers, lakes and the canal from the 19th century to the present day.

The Visit Dalsland Center in Håverud offers seasonal tourist information, with brochures and maps for Mellerud and Dalsland. The center also has exhibition and concert halls, a café and a food market selling locally produced food. If you are interested in boat traffic, you can plan your visit around the canal’s seasonal opening.

Museums and local history

At Mellerud Museum, you can explore historic homes and everyday settings from different periods, including a cottage belonging to poor rural residents, a farmhouse kitchen and a bourgeois living room. Hantverksgatan offers insights into trades such as blacksmithing, tailoring, shoemaking and ironing. The Dalaborg room contains a reconstruction model of Dalaborg Castle. The castle was built on Lake Vänern in 1304 and burned down in 1434 during the Engelbrekt rebellion.

The Kroppefjäll Local Heritage Association Museum offers different ways to explore regional history. The grounds include relocated historic buildings; an herb garden with around 350 plants; and a geological mound displaying rock types from Dalsland. An indoor and outdoor exhibition covers the region’s slate industry. The museum is located in the former restaurant of the Rostocks Brunn and Bathing Establishment and displays objects from the spa era and the local area. Rostocks Brunn operated as a spa until 1948, bringing an approximately 300-year chapter in the history of Dals Rostock to a close. Örtagården in Dals Rostock has around 250 plants and explores the history and use of medicinal plants in connection with the former spa.

Dalslands Konstmuseum stands on a rise overlooking Lake Spången, in an area that was once industrial. In addition to a permanent collection, it presents exhibitions of contemporary art from March to November; the exhibition program may change. The park has sculptures and walking paths. By the lake, there is a guest jetty with swimming access; park facilities may be staffed seasonally. The museum also has parking and is served by bus line 720, which stops at Upperud lock; check the timetable before travelling. For a program of events in central Mellerud, Kulturbruket på Dal offers concerts, theatre, dance, comedy and lectures in a concert hall with 243 seats.

In Åsnebyn, visitors can explore a cultural reserve established in 2008, with a farm whose origins date back to the Middle Ages. The landscape preserves traces of earlier times. Open circular trails from 1.1 to 2.9 kilometres run through arable and pastureland, revealing traces of earlier settlement and historic farming techniques. South of Mellerud, Dalslands Traktormuseum displays around 60 veteran tractors, along with several implements and other machines.

Swimming spots, nature and hiking trails

Vita Sannar is a long, gently sloping sandy beach on Lake Vänern. A jetty leads to the rocks; the beach has benches, changing rooms and toilets. You can reach the swimming spot by car, bicycle or on foot. There is a large car park and bicycle racks nearby.

The 5-to-8-kilometre Ramslökedalen route runs from Håverud through deciduous woods scented with ramsons and over ridges covered with pine and oak, towards Buterud Nature Reserve. Along the way, there are views of Lake Åklången and the Dalsland Canal. Ramslökedalen has hiking trails and constructed wooden steps; its flora includes toothwort, ramsons and Spåtistel, and the area is important for woodpeckers. Buterud Nature Reserve is notable for its leafy forests with many yew trees, rare goat’s-rue and orchids, as well as habitats for several woodpecker species. Views of Åklången and the canal are also among the area’s features. A path from Håverud or a canoe trip along the Dalsland Canal leads to the reserve; local trail conditions may vary.

Forsbo Nature Reserve is one of the most species-rich areas in Dalsland and is home to around 80 threatened or Red-Listed species. Visitors can park at the lock or at Dalslands Museum and follow Pilgrimsleden north into the reserve. You can also drive via Håverud or take the bus to Upperud. If travelling by bus, check the timetable in advance. For birdwatching, the nature reserve at the mouth of Holmsån has a bird tower, many boardwalks and several rest areas.

Pilgrimsleden Dalsland is a varied, 100-kilometre long-distance hiking trail through Dalsland; it runs through Vänersborg, Mellerud, Bengtsfors and Åmål, among other places. It is generally rated as moderate, marked in orange and takes around four to five days to complete. A shorter section, Mellerud–Upperud 9:9, is accessible by public transport: Mellerud station is about 1.5 kilometres from the trail, and the Linderud bus stop is 50 metres from it. Another walk, “Doktor Sædéns runda”, passes through a cultural landscape with several monuments. South of Sunnanå hamn is Hamnslingan, a 1.5-kilometre family quiz trail with twelve questions about Sweden’s right of public access; parking is available nearby.

Discover more destinations: Dalskog, Köpmannebro, Åsensbruk, Håverud, Mellerud, Bengtsfors, Gothenburg, Tanum.

For the overview of the wider region: Västra Götaland.