Information in English


The Homeland Association of Styrsö Parish

In the far west of the old Swedish province Västergötland the Southern archipelago of Gothenburg is situated. The islands are located south of the estuary of the Göta Älv, a mighty river of great importance for trading now and in ancient times. The islands are easy reachable by public ferries from land. 

Today we are around 4.500 residents and summertime more than twice that amount. There are six major islands; Brännö, Asperö, Köptstadsö, Styrsö, Donsö and Vrångö which have been populated since the 1500-hundreds. The old parish has its centre on Styrsö, which is also the heart of public service. This information mainly cover Styrsö island.

Although fishing became very important for the islanders in the beginning of the 1900-hundreds agriculture earlier was the major occupation. Today many of the islanders commute to jobs in Gothenburg. Visiting cars are not permitted!    

History of Styrsö
Already in the stone-age here were living people who collected fish and shellfish from the rich coastal supply. From the warm bronze-age here are remains from the people who were living here – perhaps all year around. From that era we have Stora Rös and a settlement (today hidden) on the southern part of the island.
      The Swedish king Gustav Vasa supported in the 16:th century the establishment on the island of a farming/fishing society, who could deliver fish to the citizens in the predecessors of Gothenburg further up the river Göta Älv. The rich herring periods in the centuries to come brought temporary boosts, but the circumstances for the islanders in between were poor. In the 19:th century coastal shipping was established and on Bratten there were established businesses with curative baths as subject, like in many other coastal resorts, where high society life took place in fancy summer hotels/restaurants.
       Styrsö is today a most idyllic place, but also a suburb with many commuters. Our nature is unique, with salty seas and almost no ordinary cars!

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Bratten
In the beginning of the 1800-hundreds the Öberg family took over the herring salting factory which was situated by the sea and started an inn – Café Öbergska today. In the end of that century a spa company was formed, when also wealthy people built fancy summer houses nearby. The Arbores Society organized planting of trees in the nearby park for recreation and they are still active organizing amongst others the great Midsummer festivities on Bratten. Today there are a pub and a traditional café as well as a guest harbour and a bath at a beach 200 meters further to north.

The Village
The earliest village of a certain scale is situated around the present church. Here in the centre of the village shops and craftsmen were gathered. Southwest of the Village (Kyrkbyn) is the Large Meadow situated, where there the villagers farmed, cultivated crops and kept animals. A lot of Salt marsh lambs are still grazing here. One of three larger garden centres was established here in the 18:th century.

Halsvik
Down at southwest the freight skippers built their somewhat fancier villas, which are easy to recognize even today. On the road down to the harbour lies the oldest house on Styrsö, a red painted front chamber cottage on the left side.

Tången
In the old days Tången was a separate part of the island and the houses were built very near each other, like in many similar fishing communities in Bohuslän. Enjoy the carefully renovated old fishermen’s houses along the narrow alleys. The fishing trawlers which crowded the old port moved in 1960 to the new port of Sandvik, but even there only one or two steel trawlers has endured the transformation of fishing methods. The guest harbour in Sandvik is well equipped with a new petrol station and is well protected from heavy sea. It is possible to enjoy salt water bathing from softly shaped cliffs.

Where to eat?
At Styrsö Skäret, Pensionat Skäret offers well-prepared food of high standards. On Bratten is an inn/pub with seating both indoors and outdoors. Here is also Café Öbergska – also with in- and outdoor seating summertime. Imagine to sit in the herb garden and enjoy the sight and smell of the cultivated herbs! In Tången is Båtebacken (picture above) with in- and outdoor places who serves easy food and beer, in winter time less open. Not all islands have coffeshops, but there are supermarkets in most of them.

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 The Greenland shrimps served here are hand peeled and utterly delicius

Accommodation
Pensionat Skäret has 13 double rooms, and there is also Styrsö Bed & Kitchen (between Tången and Bratten). Here are place för 18 people in different room configurations. Even Styrsö Nya Missionskyrka has 15 rooms with varying facilities, where you can get offer of accommodation.

Points of interest
For many people it is enough with the intense nature experience of a walk by the sea, but some places are a little extra. We have Stora Rös, the archipelago's highest point with its bronze-age cairn. From up here you can overlook three different West Swedish landscapes and the appealing view of the mighty ocean.
       At Brännholmsviken lies the Vikingakyrkogården and the bronze-age settlement (hidden). The old seaside resort buildings at Bratten are unique and there is also the Öbergs House from 1812. Our local History Museum near the church with a vast collection of old gear and the Tången fishers village as well as Halsvik are place you shouldn’t miss. Bathing is possible in Uttervik, Sandvik (cliffs) and near Bratten. Some view points are marked on the map. On the sport field Amneviksvallen Styrsö BK is located.

Walking and running
It is our hope that visitors will be guided by a map that is free to pick up and stroll around, experiencing the unique nature and the archipelago environment, that you dare to deviate from the streets and with the help of our gray signs for direction and the map can find the different favourite spots along our paths. You never have to worry about being left on the island if you do not want to, because the ferries depart from our three ports most of the day, year around. From Bratten the boat returns to Saltholmen almost every hour from 06.00 in the morning to midnight – sometimes even earlier/later.
       For the enthusiastic hiker, who seeks challenges in more rough terrain, we dare to propose a visit to Lilla Rävholmen (Pottan) in southwest. The attentive can find the unique signature of our crown prince Gustav Adolf (deceased in a plane crash 1947) from his visit of the mighty, now disused fort. Another a bit strenuous walk to Salskärs udde also offers impactful nature views and seats to rest on by the wide Kattegatt! A nice and comfortable picnick-place when the westerly winds are strong is Kvarnberget with view over the inner fairways and Donsö.
      The hiker can on the map find three color-marked loops (yellow, blue and red) with great variability to choose from for walking or running. For walking only is a fourth loop (white-green), which partly leads over open cliff parts with view over amongst other things the very famous light-house island Vinga. Along this loop you also find picknick-places arranged.

Brännö has a long history as the pilots island. The land was divided into no less than five homes “hemman” but many pilots have worked here serving the extensive shipping to and from Gothenburg. During the 20th century many cultural workers established here – not least Lasse Dahlquist – who made Brännö and Vinga “world famous” with his songs.

Asperö is the island of fishmongers. While other islands housed large fishing fleets, the inhabitants of Asperö devoted themselves more to fish trade. Sometimes they also sailed to Skagen and fetched fish for sale in Gothenburg.

Köpstadsö – or Kössö – is a smaller of the inhabited islands and has a history with many skippers, who sailed to near and far coasts. Here, vehicles are strictly forbidden and only wheelbarrows are allowed.

Donsö is the entrepreneurs' island. The church here has always been of great importance and the islanders have always been diligent to find alternatives to the lean agriculture. Fishing began early and shipping companies were established in the early 20th century and are now a real major player in marine business and shipping of Sweden. There have been trawl manufacturing and a large shipyard. There is a large guest harbour and the old Ice House has converted into a restaurant and hotel.

Vrångö is located in the south and there fishing and pilotage has been the alternatives to agriculture. In the summer the island lives up with its large guest harbour, several businesses and hostels. The bathing places are well-attended in sunny days.

Vinga is located furthest to the west and is the first and last the sailor is seeing of Sweden. Interesting lighthouse, big pyramidal beacon and museum in Evert Taube's family house are great points of interest, not to mention the unique barren flora and bedrock. Day trips from Gothenburg and Hönö can allow overnight stay in the old houses.

Several smaller islands are inhabited in the summer, eg Vargö, Knarrholmen, Stora Källö, Kårholmen and Sjumansholmen, where the archipelago boat (it is NOT called a ferry) docks in the summer.

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Welcome to the Southern Archipelago!

Important links:

 

• Ferry company's page with more information and several maps in different languages

• Walking map over Styrsö with text in English and German

• Page with links to many pictures of our archipelago 

• Slide show i HD (2 min)

• Information for visitors to Styrsö

 

Förening:

Styrsö Sockens Hembygdsförening

Skapad av: Peter Andersson (2020-02-11 11:24:23) Kontakta föreningen
Ändrad av: Peter Andersson (2020-08-27 13:18:17) Kontakta föreningen