Holiday apartment in Vilhelmina – Culture, lakes and nature

Vilhelmina combines a historic church town with impressive traces of the region’s past. The Vilhelmina Museum is housed in an old vicarage dating from the 1890s in the church town. It presents the history of the municipality from prehistoric times to the present day. The exhibitions include tools from the settlers’ period of subsistence farming as well as Sámi objects. Other highlights include the rich 7th-century grave find known as “Maksjöfyndet” and a ski dating from the 3rd century.

Culture

Opposite the church town, the Samegalleriet displays, among other things, the world’s largest Sámi knife. Knowledgeable guides lead visitors through the exhibition and also offer adventures in the wilderness of Lapland. Another historic district is Kyrkstan, Vilhelmina’s oldest district. Along Storgatan below the church stand wooden cottages dating from the 19th century. Vilhelmina church town comprises around 27 red cottages surrounding the church in the centre of Vilhelmina. The present church was built between 1835 and 1840 and consecrated in 1846.

The origins of the town are also closely linked to the settlement of Volgsjö. It was founded in the 1770s by Daniel Danielsson from Torvsjö in Åsele. In 1804, Volgsjö was renamed Vilhelmina after Queen Fredrika Dorotea Vilhelmina, the wife of Gustav IV Adolf. In July, Nybyggarveckan takes up settler culture as its theme for a week. The programme includes guided town tours, exhibitions, concerts, a country store, lectures, Sámi culture and other activities.

On Kyrkberget, the Sámi association Vualtjeren Saemien Siebrie has built huts and storage houses according to various Sámi building traditions.

Nature and water

The Strandleden trail offers walks along Lake Volgsjön in the surroundings of Vilhelmina. The lake lies immediately outside the town and is known for its large trout population. The lower reaches of the Vojmån offer high-quality grayling fishing. Bergmans Fisk & Vilt smokes and processes fish, including locally caught Arctic char and trout as well as other seafood.

All motorised traffic is prohibited year-round on Lake Baksjön next to the built-up area of Vilhelmina. In summer, the lake can be explored by rowing boat, canoe and kayak. In winter, a prepared nature ski trail runs across Lake Baksjön and into the forest on the opposite side. There are also easy cycling trails near Vilhelmina. A walking trail leads around Baksjötjärn. Along the trail are fire pits for barbecuing; a fishing licence is required for fishing.

The extensive Marsfjället Nature Reserve in Vilhelmina Municipality includes alpine areas, mountain birch forest, high-altitude marsh plateaus and primeval forest. There are marked hiking trails in the reserve. The 50-kilometre Urskogsleden trail also passes through this natural area, connecting the Matskan area in Marsfjället Nature Reserve with Dainans Nature Reserve. Along the route are four access points with car parks and four overnight huts.

Trails and activities

During the snow-free season, the free Hinderbanan Utmaningen obstacle course in Tjärnvallen is open. The course includes military-style exercises and eleven obstacles and is accessible to everyone during this season. The swimming centre at Folkets hus has a 25-metre pool, a warm-water pool, a whirlpool and a children’s pool.

Gubbseleforsen is a scenic rapids area about 1.5 kilometres from the centre of Vilhelmina. It can be reached on foot, by bicycle or by car. There is a wind shelter where visitors can make a fire. Nature trails run across Kyrkberget, including a trail adapted for children.

From Vilhelmina, the Wilderness Road leads north through mountainous, forested and expansive marshland landscapes.

Getting there

Vilhelmina Airport, also known as South Lapland Airport, is located 12 kilometres from the town centre and offers flights to Stockholm Arlanda. The Inlandsbanan railway passes through Vilhelmina, but offers tourist train services only in summer. For year-round rail connections, Umeå is the nearest railway station.

Other destinations

Other options at this destination level include Dikanäs, Vilhelmina, Kittelfjall, Marsliden, Klimpfjäll, Saxnäs and Storseleby.

For the higher-level travel overview: Västerbotten.