Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
can take a peek inside, but bear in mind that these are privately owned summer
houses today.
Landskyrka
Kyrkvägen, Nordanå • Daily 10am-4pm
Next to the cottages is the
landskyrka
, a proud white Neoclassical church which so
enthused Leopold von Buch, a traveller who visited here in the nineteenth century, that
he was moved to describe it as “the largest and most beautiful building in the entire
north of Sweden, rising like a Palmyra's temple out of the desert”. Its domed roof is
supported by four mighty pillars along each of the walls; inside, there's an outstanding
series of medieval sculptures. Look out too for the 800-year-old
Virgin of Skellefteå
, a
walnut
woodcarving
immediately behind the altar on the right - it's one of the few
remaining Romanesque images of the Virgin in the world. Nearby, on the Skellefte
River, the islet of
Kyrkholmen
, reached by a small wooden bridge, is a pretty place to sit
and while away an hour or two. It's home to an outdoor
café
that specializes in waffles
with cloudberry jam (mid-June to mid-Aug).
7
Lejonströmsbron
From the church you have two walking routes back to the centre: either take
Strandpromenaden along the river's edge, interrupted by barbecue sites and grassy
stretches; or cross
Lejonströmsbron
, one of the oldest and longest wooden bridges in
Sweden, beneath the hill where the church stands. Dating from 1737, the bridge was
the scene of mass slaughter when Russian and Swedish forces clashed there during the
marvellously named War of the Hats, which started in 1741. Once on the south side of
the river, you can stroll back to Parksbron, past the occasional boat and silent fisherman.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
SKELLEFTEÅ
By bus
The bus station is at the top of the central modern
paved square, Torget.
Destinations
Arjeplog (2 daily; 3hr 15min), Arvidsjaur
(2 daily; 2hr); Bodø, Norway (Mon-Fri & Sun 1 daily;
9hr); Luleå (9 daily; 2hr 45min); Umeå (10 daily; 2hr).
Tourist o
ce
Trädgårdsgatan 7 (end June to early Aug
Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-3pm, Sun noon-3pm;
early Aug to end June Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat
10am-2pm;
T
0910 45 25 00,
W
destinationskelleftea.se).
There are internet terminals here.
ACCOMMODATION
Best Western
Malmia
Torget 2
T
0910 73 25 00,
W
malmia.se.
A good central location in the main square
for this modern hotel offering everything you'd expect from
a chain hotel - creature comforts but with few flourishes;
rooms
depart
ment. Streets
ahead of any other establishment in
town.
790kr/1295kr
Victoria
Trädgårdsgatan 8
T
0910 174 70,
W
hotelvictoria.se.
Of the central hotels, this is the
cheapest, a family-run establishment on the top floor of
one of the buildings on the south side of the main square.
Rooms
are
sadly
rather
plain
and
uninspiring.
722kr/1270kr
Skellefteå Camping
About 1.5km north of the centre
on Mossgatan, just off the E4
T
091073 55 00,
wskecamp.mammon.se.
As well as camping, you can rent
two-bed cabins here. The site also has a heated o
utdoor
swim
ming po
ol, wave machine and jacuzzi. Tents
140kr
,
cabins
450kr
Stadshotell
Stationsgatan 8-10
T
0910 71 10 60,
W
skellefteastadshotell.se.
Skellefteå's new pride and
joy, a full-service modern business-oriented hotel with
smart Nordic-style rooms and a superlative gym and sauna
are
adequate
if
rather
unexceptional.
699kr/1299kr
Youth hostel
Brännavägen 25
T
0910 72 57 00,
W
stiftsgardenskelleftea.com.
A 30min walk from the
centre, this rustic, red, two-storey building by the banks of
the Skellefte River is well worth seeking out though it only
takes advance bookings. Head west along Nygatan (which
later becomes Brännavägen) until the junction with
Kyrkvägen, w
here th
e hostel is on the corner. No dorm
beds. Doubles
480kr
EATING AND DRINKING
For all its contemporary go-ahead industry, modern Skellefteå is quiet and retiring; however, its restaurants and bars come
as a pleasant surprise since they are among the best in Norrland.
