Tips- what to do end see while visiting Skara

Skara Sommarland

Scandinavia’s largest water park with fun water activities for the whole family. Skara Sommarland is also a fun fair, where visitors can enjoy go-carting and lots of exciting rides.

Lake Hornborga

Every spring the cranes arrive in their thousands, to dance and rest at the lake before flying on to breeding grounds in the north. During the crane season the Information centre “Trandansen” on route 184 towards Falköping is open.

At the other side of the lake you find naturum Hornborgasjön with an exhibition about the history of the lake and its bird life, a viewing tower and a nice café.

Skara Cathedral

The Cathedral is located in the heart of Skara, and is one of the oldest in the country. The church has a well-preserved crypt from the 12th century and also Bo Beskow´s 37 beautiful glass mosaic windows.

Västergötlands museum

Meet prehistoric, viking age and medieval times by the exhibitions at Västergötland´s museum. Fornbyn is next to the museum. Old buildings from around the province have been moved here, to recreate the set-up of an old farming community. Fornbyn is also a nice area for families.

Veterinary museum

In the centre of Skara is a beautiful building, which was Sweden’s first veterinary school and today housing the country’s only veterinary museum. Here you will experience the veterinary profession’s development over 250 years and in the basement you will also find well-preserved remains of the Franciscan Monastery of St. Katarina.

Culture road Skaraborg

Feel the history and enjoy the magnificent scenery as you go along the culture route Skaraborg between Karleby and Tidan, 70 kilometres.

Varnhem monastery and Kata farm

The Cistercian monks came to Varnhem in 1150 and at the end of the 13th century the monastery church was the largest sacred building in Sweden. In the beautiful surroundings there is also monastery ruins, a museum and a nice café. Visit Kata farm which holds one of Sweden’s oldest preserved rooms- the crypt of a private farm church from the Viking Age.

The Valle area

The Valle area offers magnificent nature in a fantastically varied landscape, rich in flora and fauna. There are six nature reserves with signposted trails and info signs describing the area’s geology and history. The area is well known for its flowering cherrytrees in May.

Jula art gallery

Jula Hotel has a large private collection of works by many great Swedish artists. In addition to many paintings by Anders Zorn there are also paintings by Carl Larsson, Bruno Liljefors, Jenny Lindström and more. The collection, consisting of about 30 pictures, can be viewed by members of the public all year round.

Skara-Lundsbrunns railroads and railway museum

During the first part of the 20th century it was possible to ride the rails from Skara in five directions. The proud tradition is kept alive on the heritage line Skara-Lundsbrunn, which in summertime operates their old steam locomotive and vintage train carriages through the lovely countryside between Skara and Lundsbrunn. There is also a museum open at Sundays in July. Here you can study engines, waggons, old photographs and other old railway stuff in an authentic environment.