In less than ten weeks, it will be Midsummer in Sweden, the start of the summer season! Whether you’ll stay at Näsets Marcusgård or elsewhere, check out the Ore (Furudal) surroundings, do some local shopping and enjoy the countryside scenery. Here’s a little guide to summer activities and culture around Ore.
#1 Go for a swim in Lake Ore (Oresjön) or Lake Skattungen
Both lakes have many private swimming spots, sandy beaches, and places where you can walk a couple of hundred meters before the water becomes deep. Save for children, but be aware and watch your children!
#2 Go for a hike to Ärteråsens Fäbodar, the summer farms from the past
Ärteråsen is one of Sweden’s largest preserved summer farms, with a spectacular view. The place is very old. In the oldest cabin, carvings date back to 1662, though Ärteråsen’s origin can be traced back to the 1400s. It’s a 2-hour walk from Näsets Marcusgård. Buy your knapsack filled with a delicious local lunch at Snitths Hantverksbageri in Furudal, and enjoy the view at Ärteråsens highest point.
#3 Do as a local and celebrate midsummer at one of the villages around Ore
The smallest are often the best! Maybe you can help raise the maypole or join the traditional ring dance around it later on. Eat some herring and boiled new potatoes. Girls and young women can pick up seven different species of flowers and lay them under their pillows. At night, their future husbands appear to them in a dream.
#4 Enjoy a farmer’s meal at Näsets Marcusgård
During the summer, we will serve rural diners once a week. Think stew, locally made, authentic, fresh ingredients in an intimate environment at our farm close to the woods. We will work together with a local caterer. Nonalcoholic drinks are included! Keep an eye on our website to be informed.
#5 Visit one of the many music events around Lake Siljan
If you like music, you’re in the right place! Just choose! Suck up the acoustical qualities of Dalhalla; you are invited to enjoy traditional folk music, classical music, church concerts and traditional dancing to fiddle music in various village community houses at Music vid Siljan or visit the folk music festival (Spelmansstämma) in Furudals Bruk.
#6 Spoil yourself and have a meal at Solgårdskrogen in Nittsjö.
We recommend Solgårdskrogen. We like the scenery, the taste of their food, and their philosophy: food prepared over an open fire, vegetables from their own garden, ingredients from the woods, and local meat and fish, in combination with matching drinks.
If you are around, take a look inside the fabric store from Nittsjö Keramik, a ceramics craft business founded in 1843.
#7 Bike around Lake Ore (Oresjön)
Take your bike and cycle around Lake Ore. Look for nice finds at one of the many flea markets (Loppis) around the lake. Then, have lunch (from your knapsack bought at Snitths Hantverksbageri) at one of the beautiful spots. You can bring your own cycle or rent one.
#8 What about a Swedish Fika (coffee with some cake) at Snitts Hantverksbageri?
Fika is a Swedish concept that means “to have coffee.” It is often accompanied by pastries, cookies, or pie. You can even have it with tea, juice, or lemonade. Snitts Hantverksbageri is the perfect place to get acquainted with this concept. It offers local, fair, and freshly made products.
#9 Be enchanted by the church trail (Kyrkstig)
This easy and well-signposted trail was the path the villagers took to go to church around the lake. If you start at Gammelstan in Norrboda, Gammelstan consists of two farms and 26 buildings built between 1600 and 1800. You can get a guided tour during the summer, but it’s also worth just walking through it. The Church path starts before this place; dark red signs mark it. The closer you come to the church, the more it feels like you’re walking in a painting, especially the part with birches and the lake next to you and a cute wooden bridge which crosses a stream in the middle of lovely greens. It’s easy to imagine churchgoers in their Sunday clothes going through the woods, following the lake. That’s precisely what makes this path charming. On your way, you’ll pass two beaches to have a rest. The first one is rather big and has a pier. The next one is little and cosy, a perfect place to swim or picnic. You can also barbeque on both beaches. The path ends at the Ore church (1870-1874, first built in 1706), a picturesque church next to Lake Ore (Oresjön).
#10 Play Indiana Jones, go geocaching!
Be a treasure hunter; find a treasure in the Ore surroundings. Round Ore are 10 -15 hidden treasures waiting to be found by you. Go online, search for a Geocaching app and pick your hidden target. Sometimes easy, sometimes difficult, lots of fun as a couple, as a group of friends, and with children.
Enjoy your holidays and have fun around Ore. Share your pictures at #vackraore on Instagram. Come back and stay @Näsets Marcusgård!