LÅNGEN RUNT, 29 km - Bergslagen cycling

LÅNGEN RUNT, 29 km
Difficulty level: Green
Estimated time: 2-3 h
This cycle route gives you the chance to experience the interesting
area around lake Lången. Here you will find an exciting natural
and cultural environment. Stop for a while and explore the many
sights along the route. The Lången runt (around Lången) is
signposted with blue stickers. If you want to shorten the route,
you can cycle over what is known as the church boardwalk across
the centre of Lången. The cycle route starts at Svampen in Örebro.
1. Svampen was built in 1956-57, is 58 m high and has a water
reservoir that contains 9000 m3 of water. The water tower acts as
a pressure release for the water mains system in Örebro.
2. Lillån: The land tilled by the farmers in what used to be Hofsta
village became the residential and industrial area of Lillån. Axberg
municipality was created in 1952 and one of its first investments
was in this area.
3. Gryt was also a village whose land became part of the Lillån
residential area. The old village street is now Grytängsvägen.
4. The red building opposite the turning for Lundby was once a
public school, Tjusebotorp school, which closed in the 1940s. It
is now a private residence.
5. Along a small bit of road on the right beside the former school
is the Älgastenen – a 12 metre high glacial erratic boulder.
6. Kåviängen is a forest meadow dominated by hazel and with a
great variety of flora. In the 1950s, clearing of the area began, as it
had become overgrown. It has been a nature reserve since 1968.
7. Lången lake (South, Middle, North) forms part of the
Eskiltuna River drainage basin via Lillån river and Hjälmaren
lake. The Association for the Preservation of the Lången
lakes strives to counteract the growth that threatens the lake.
Kyrkspången (the church boardwalk) is visible evidence of the
association’s work.
8. Kåvi was mentioned in early sources in the 1300s. The manor
was created in the 1600s. It has an area of around 700 hectares
(principally forest). The property has had many owners over the
years.
Altitude: 90 m
9. Kyrkspången (the church boardwalk) has linked 1993 Nävesta
and Gottsätter since 1993. The old boardwalk became unusable in
the 1950s.
10. “Kommunvägen” was built in the 1950s to link Kil with
the rest of Axberg. In the 1950s, the Swedish National Road
Administration built what is now Rv 50, which Kommunvägen
was linked to.
11. Sollidens kursgård. This was built in the 1930s as a
summer home for the Israelsson family, who owned the Swedish
department store Härold. In the 1950s, the Olaus Petri religious
organisation purchased the building for use as a summer home.
From the 1980s, Solliden has been owned by Örebro parish
association and it is now a training centre for the Swedish church.
Solliden is open year round for events and conferences. The
surroundings are very attractive and you can easily find a suitable
place for a picnic. All are welcome, but please make sure you don’t
leave any litter.
12. Alongside the road to Axberg church are several large houses
built in the 1920s and 1930s as summer homes by well-off
Örebro residents. On the eastern side of the road there is a small
red house that was rented in around 1916 for the summer by a
man called David Björling. His sons all became famous singers,
including the opera singer Jussi Björling.
13. Axberg church. The oldest parts date from the 1200s.
The church took on its current shape in the 1700s. An ancient
church¬yard gate still remains.
14. Kårsta Golf Course. The club has 1200 members. The 9
hole course was inaugurated in 1993, and the 18 hole course was
inaugurated in 2004.
15. On the left you can glimpse Hovsta. Hovsta station once lay
there, which was the reason for the settlement. Since the 1970s,
building has expanded over the farms of Kumla and Lund.
16. Here you cycle through what was once Förlunda village.
17. The oldest parts of Hovsta church date from the 1100s. The
tower is from the 1200s and the current spire is from the early
1700s. The church grew to its current length in the late 1700s.