Sjuhärads history

Our region shares the same history of being on the borderland between Sweden and Denmark. Several times the Danish army rode over the border into Sjuhärad and were repelled by the Swedes. A bike ride along the Ätradalsleden cycle path or a hike on the Redvägsleden are examples of places in Sjuhärad that remind of this time. 

The border with Denmark

Sjuhärad can be distinguished as a border settlement during the Great Power era, partly because of the drawing of the national border at the time but also in view of the landscape's geographical exterior.

At this time, the national border ran from Bohuslän via Halland, Skåne and Blekinge, which all belonged to Denmark. During the war of the Great Power era, these landscapes would be incorporated into Sweden. However, there were not many buildings or fortifications right at the Halland-Västergötland border, the defense was instead concentrated in places quite far from the border. The idea was partly to lure the enemy out into the wasteland and unknown environment rather than meet them at the border.

The defence positions were placed strategically around the landscape and natural conditions such as difficult-to-force waterways and narrow rugged terrain were used for which Sjuhärad's varied borderland landscape was ideal. When Scania and Bohuslän became Swedish through the peace accords of Brömsebro in 1645 and Roskilde in 1658, Sjuhärad was no longer an outpost against Denmark. But the border village character came to live on well into the 19th century, above all demographically. 

To get a good picture of how the landscape and the buildings looked like at this time, a visit to Torpa Castle, Hofsnäs Herrgård and other "Farms around the lake" (Åsunden) is an excellent choice.

Our natural heritage

The region used to be dominated by extensive grazing which mostly consisted of pastures and heather lands with elements of small fields and meadows. The forest was made up mostly of leafy trees and at the beginning of the 17th century the landscape was characterized by large forest areas.

What gives the Sjuhärad area its topographical character is its highlands, numerous waterways, lakes, rivers and streams that cut through the hills, with extensive forests and large bogs, which cover the countryside. A lot of this can still be seen today as much of the land is still uncultivated pasture and although there are spruce plantations, the leafy forest still dominates the landscape.

Carl von Linné

Linné undertook his Västgöta journey in 1746. He came riding from Borgstena towards Borås and describes the road as follows: "The road to Borås went up, down and on the sides of steep slopes, so that the ground here is very different from the other pleasant places in Västergötland. The city slopes down to a quiet river called Wiska, which flows out of Lake Öresjön to the south on the growing side of the city, with good water, and for the dyers particularly serviceable." 

Borås was a "small, clean and pleasant city" thought Linné, who then rode on towards Alingsås. About that part of his journey he wrote the following. "I am allowed to call the land between Borås and Alingsås Wästgöta mountains, because it completely resembles mountains with its stone base".

Travel in Linné's footsteps at Grönbo and Hagen

Today, this place can be found at the Rya Åsar nature reserve in Borås. At Grönbo in the reserve there is a gorge that Linné used on his journey through Västergötland in 1746. Linné's memorial stone is located along the gorge in the south. The pasture land and old arable land is used for grazing to increase its natural value ​​and keeps the landscape open where the Hagen farm was located. To the east of the field you will find the old farm plot with beech trees, garden plants and stone-set borders. See yellow trail markings on the map below.

The formation Borås

The great power period in Sweden began with the coronation of Gustav II Adolf in 1611 and extended until the death of Karl XII in 1718. In Sjuhärad, the founding of Borås in 1621 is one of the important events of the era and can be seen as a consequence of the great power era's economic policy.

At the beginning of the great power era, there was a large population increase throughout the country, a trend that began in the 15th century. Sjuhärad was not, as one might think, sparsely populated, but already had around 38,000 inhabitants before 1621, which in 1699 had increased to 41,000 despite war, disease and stunted growth.

City fires

City fires have devastated Borås four times: 1681, 1727, 1822 and 1827. The people of Borås diligently rebuilt their city, though unfortunately each time in wood. When the city was rebuilt for the last time in 1827, there were special rules to prevent more fires. They decided that some streets would be made wider so that fire could not spread as quickly between the houses. 

Bogesund becomes Ulricehamn

After the formation of Borås, which is described above, the city received travel trade rights to an extent that no other Swedish city had received, even less any rural population. The residents' dissatisfaction in Bogesund was not long in coming. They received a certain extension to their rights in two rounds in 1676 and 1719. Another application was submitted for them to enjoy the same rights as Borås had and after nine long years of waiting the resolution came in 1739 although the application was rejected. Not only that, Bogesund was deprived of its age-old right to free travel trade in provisions. A terrible blow and by this time good advice was expensive.

Bogesund's citizens parried the blow with a beautiful diversionary manoeuvre. At parliament in 1741, the city's mayor, who was also a member of parliament, faithfully handed over a letter with a gracious request that the city of Bogesund be renamed Ulricehamn in honour of Queen Ulrika Eleonora. The application was promptly granted by King Fredrik 1. For parliament 1742-1743, the good citizens from Ulricehamn were ready for the next push. Now they fared much better: Ulricehamn was given the right to "enjoy free farm-style cattle and livestock trade just like the city of Borås". However, as there was so little trade in the following years, it was only by 1803 that their travel trade could be equated with Borås.

Ulricehamn had to share the fate of all the Swedish wooden towns with recurring major fire accidents. In 1788, 12 farms in the city center burned down, among other buildings the town hall was destroyed. By the next year, a new town hall had been built. This is what still remains, and this and the adjoining buildings in the square convey to the present day a fine image of the old Swedish town planning.