Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
line for the Vasaloppet race, with double rooms as well as
dorm beds located in two separate
buildi
ngs; ther
e are so
me
rooms with private facilities. Dorms
230k
, doubles
300kr
Mora Parken
Parkvägen 1
T
0250 276 00,
W
moraparken.se.
A comfortable modern hotel catering
for families with children; there's a playground nearby as
well as a lake for swimming. It also has a selection of
cottages for rent. It's a 10min walk from the centre along
Hantver
karegatan, whi
ch begins nea
r the
bus station.
Doubles
995kr/1295kr
, cottages from
330kr
EATING AND DRINKING
China House
Strandgatan 6
T
0250 152 40.
The food
here isn't overly authentic but this is the only Chinese
restaurant for miles around. There are both Chinese and Thai
dishes on the menu, with mains starting at 140kr (three-
course set menu 245kr). Alternatively there are steaks, from
150kr.
Mon-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat & Sun noon-10.30pm.
Pizzeria Prima
Fridhemsplan 2D
T
0250 120 11.
The
interior may be plain and simple, but the pizzas here are
tasty and the range on offer impressive. It's perfectly placed
for a last-minute dash to the bus station. Reckon on around
75kr per pizza.
Daily 11am-10pm.
Ì
Vasagatan 32
Vasagatan 32
T
0250 102 27.
With
walls decorated with local art and photographs, this bright
new brasserie is a breath of fresh air: well-prepared classic
dishes such as pan-fried salmon and fried plaice go for
125-199kr. Lunch is in buffet form with a choice of meat or
fish.
Mon-Wed 11am-2pm, Thurs & Fri 11am-2pm &
4-10pm, Sat & Sun noon-10pm.
Wasastugan
Tingnäsvägen 6
T
0250 177 92.
Set
within a huge log building between the main train station
and the Vasaloppsmuséet and serving up Cajun dishes such
as blackened salmon (199kr), tuna fishcake (79kr) and a
massive barbecue-burger (145kr) that really hits the spot.
Daily 11am-10pm.
Orsa and the bear park
An uneventful little place barely 20km from Mora, sitting beside Lake Orsasjön, a
northerly adjunct of Lake Siljan,
ORSA
is draw is its location - right in the heart of
Sweden's bear country - and its fascinating bear park. It's reckoned that there are a
good few hundred
brown bears
roaming the dense forests around town, though few
sightings are made in the wild.
8
Orsa Grönklitt björnpark
Bear Park • Daily: mid-June to mid-Aug 10am-6pm; mid-Aug to mid-June 10am-3pm • 210kr •
W
orsabjornpark.se • The bear park is
located 16km from Orsa, and can be reached by taking bus #118 (Mon-Fri 2 daily, Sun 1 daily) from Orsa bus station; from Mora, take
#104 to Orsa and then change
he
Orsa Grönklitt björnpark
is the biggest
bear park
in Europe. The bears here aren't
tamed or caged, but wander around the 277 thousand square metres of the forested
park at will, much as they would in the wild. It's the human visitors who are confined,
having to clamber up viewing platforms and along covered walkways.
The bears are fascinating to watch: their behaviour is amusing, and they're gentle and
vegetarian for the most part (though occasionally they're fed the odd dead reindeer or
elk that's been killed on the roads). Trying hard not to be upstaged by the bears are a
few lynx, wolves and wolverines, the other three Swedish predators - although you'll be
lucky to spot the wolves in particular; in fact, it's a good idea to bring along a pair of
binoculars to help you pick out any rustlings in the undergrowth. In addition, the park
has a couple of Siberian tigers, two truly enormous Kamchatka bears from eastern
Russia (the male weighs a whopping 900kg) and a pair of Eurasian eagle owls, the
largest owl in the world, and found throughout Sweden's forests.
Ever-expanding, the park now features a new
Polar World
section, where you'll find a
couple of polar bears, and a leopard centre where you can observe several different
species including a snow leopard.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
BEAR PARK
By public transport
Orsa's train station for Inlandsbanan
arrivals and departures is right in the centre of town on
Järnvägsgatan, opposite the bus station. The bear park is
easily reached on the #118 bus from Orsa bus station.
Tourist o
ce
Dalagatan 1, Orsa (mid-June to mid-Aug
Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat & Sun 10am-5pm; mid-Aug to
mid-June Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-2pm;
T
0250 55
25 50,
W
siljan.se). Near the train and bus stations, this
office can help with local accommodation.
