Käringön: Island history between fishing and seaside resort

On Käringön, a car-free island and a long maritime history come together. If you choose a hotel destination based in part on the character of the place, it is worth taking a closer look at fishing, piloting and its time as a seaside resort around 1900. Varmbadhuset combines historic bathing culture with uses today.

Island character and getting there

The passenger ferry between Käringön and Tuvesvik is operated by Västtrafik. When planning your crossing, check the current timetable with Västtrafik. This will help you factor the ferry journey into your travel plans.

Fishing and early local history

Käringön has been settled since at least the 1590s. Since the 18th century, the island has been a centre of fishing. From Käringön, large-scale fishing for ling and cod was carried out on the banks of the North Sea. Olof Knape was born on Käringön in 1664. The history therefore encompasses both early settlement and fishing of great significance; Knape’s year of birth adds a specific, dated biographical detail. The fish species and fishing grounds mentioned give the subject of fishing a specific context.

These are different points in time: settlement dates back to at least the 1590s, Knape was born in 1664, and Käringön has been a fishing centre since the 18th century. Together, early settlement, one person’s life and the development of fishing span a longer period.

Harbour, buildings and piloting

The oldest part of the settlement developed near Isackes sund, once an important harbour. Several of the boathouses there date back to an earlier period; they are small and partly made of wood. The location connects the historic settlement centre with a former harbour, while the boathouses add an architectural dimension to the history. Their age, small size and partial use of wood are specific features.

In the mid-19th century, the pilot lookout was moved from Rösseberget to its current location in the west. This relocation is distinct from the former harbour function at Isackes sund: here the focus is on a move, while there it is on the site’s former importance as a harbour. This makes it possible to distinguish between two geographical aspects of the maritime history.

Seaside resort history and present-day use

Varmbadhuset is a historic building from Käringön’s time as a seaside resort around 1900 and was built in 1900. At the time, it offered seaweed baths and other treatments that were part of the bathing culture of the period. Today, the building is used for sauna sessions and sea bathing, and offers views across the outermost coastal area of Bohuslän. The historic treatments and today’s sauna sessions and sea bathing reflect different phases in the building’s use.

A touch of indulgence at Karingo

At Karingo, guests can enjoy fresh oysters with a glass of champagne in the jacuzzi.

Discover more destinations: Varekil, Svanvik, Stillingsön, Mollösund, Ellös, Svanesund, Henån, Gullholmen

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