FLEN
"The Violet City"
"There is a beautiful girl in the bookshop in Flen, dreaming all alone amongst the books...".
These
are the first lines in the song "The Violet from Flen", written by
Ulf Peder Olrog - a famous Swedish composer. In 1942 Orlog shared a train compartment
with a girl from Flen, called Carin. Carin worked in a bookshop in Flen. This
song was written after his meeting with her, and this is how Flen got its nickname!
Flen is situated in the middle of Sörmland, in an area of farmland, lakes
and forests.
You can play "minigolf" beside the camping site in Malmköping, next to the railway station in Flen and at Fredriksberg's Fritidsgård in Hälleforsnäs.
Follow the path for 2 km’s, through the beautiful nature of
Sörmland. Look in through the windows of the small houses where Snow
White, Sleeping Beauty and other well known figures from the fairytales
can be seen "live". Half way along the trail you will find a playground
and a café‚. You can also find some animals here. Maybe you
can go for a ride on a pony?!
To get to Sagostigen; follow
the signs at the turn-off to Hälleforsnäs, from road 53. (Between
Malmköping and Eskilstuna). Open every day 10-17, until the 28th of
August. Phone: 0157/440 33
Laila and Lisskull are the names of two boats, making sightseeing
trips on lake Båven. The trips are on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6
PM, and on Saturdays at 1PM. You have to make a reservation if you want
to do such a trip. Phone: 0155/240738 or 240742
If you want
to go for a canoe trip you can rent your canoe from Friluftscenter in Skebokvarn.
Friluftscenter can, if you want, help you with transportation of the canoe
to another part of the lake. You also find maps etc at Friluftscenter.
Friluftscenter 0157/311 10
Malmköping
used to be the garrison town for the Royal Södermanland Regiment from 1774-
1921 and the main town in the Flen area until the 60's. In 1771 Gustaf Adolf
von Siegroth became commander of the Royal Södermanland Regiment, and the
same year he chose Malma Heath to be their permanent drill-ground Malma Heath
(Malmahed) may still be seen today, but now it is used for playing football
etc.
In 1784 von Siegroth drew up a town plan, with regular blocks for the commercial
and craft town which was to be. The plan was approved by King Gustaf III, but
the "town" was only granted the charter of a borough. The town plan
of todays is Malmköping is very close to that, that von Siegroth designed.
Amongst the many things to see in Malmköping you find a lot of charming
houses from the turn of the century. von Siegroth was a pioneer, establishing
Malmköping both as a field hospital and the first military 
academy in Sweden. Plevnagården is a hotel and a restaurant, established
in the house where the field hospital used to be. At Plevnagården you
also find a 100-year-old country shop, where you can buy sweets. The military
academy was situated in the house called "Gästgivargården"
which can be found at "Hembygdsgården". Hembygdsgården
is the old homestead museum. You may visit the houses at Hembygdsgården
every Wednesday between 18.00-21.00.
The
Tramway Museum - Take
a ride on a tram! You can go for a ride with a tram several kilometres and
look at old trams from different parts of Sweden. The Tramway museum is
situated on the outskirts of Malmköping towards Sparreholm and Nyköping
Open daily 2/7 - 7/8, 11.00-17.00
Phone:
0157/204 30 The Military Vehicle Museum
- In this museum you find military vehicles from 1920 until the
present day. The Military Vehicle Museum is situated close to the tramway
museum. Open Monday-Friday 1/5 - 30/9, 10.00-16.00, also open weekends 11.00-17.00
Phone: 0157/20451
The Malmahed Museum
- The museum shows what life was like as a soldier in Malmköping, from
the 19th century until today. In the Naturum they display the geology, flora
and fauna of the region and in the museum there is also have a room used
for temporary exhibitions. Open all year. During the summer open daily 13.00-17.00.
The Photo Museum - Situated at Hembygdsgården.
Here you can find a large collection of photographs from Malmköping.
The museum and Hembygdsgården is open every Wednesday 18.00-21.00
There are a lot of handicraft shops
in Malmköping and the surrounding area. Ask for a list! One example
is Jan-Sören's konsthantverk, a very nice exhibition in Sparreholm.
This is an exhibition showing different articles made of wood.
Sörmlandsleden,
"the Sörmland trail", takes a circular route throughout the whole
of Sörmland, passing a variety of scenery - forests, farmland and historic
monuments. The trail is easily accessible by road at many points . You can access
Sörmlandsleden at several places near Flen, Hälleforsnäs and
Malmköping. The trail is marked with orange rings around trees and poles.
Take a shorter walk or take a tent and stay out for a couple of days.
While you are visiting Flen,
why not take a trip to "Bruket" in Hälleforsnäs. This is
a foundry with a history going back to the 16th century, which is still being
used today. Here you can have a look around the museum and buy gifts in cast-iron.
You can also uplive a real theatre within the foundry area. Performances are
most evenings during August and September. For further information ask at the
tourist office or phone 0157-40615 to make sure they are open.
In sweden, and specially in Sörmland you can find a lot of castles. If you are interested drop me a line and I will send you information about the castles in the area around Flen.
TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICES
In Malmköping:
In the old homestead museum, opposite
to the bus station.
Open Monday-Friday 10.00-17.00,
Saturday-Sunday 10.00-14.00.
Open until about the 7th of August.
Phone: 0157/194 44
In Flen:
In the Train station.
Open Monday-Friday 11.00-19.00.
Open until about the 5th of August
Phone: 0157/192 96
or write to
Flens Kommun
S-640 00 Flen
Sweden
Om ni har
fått nog av Flen kan ni prova Katrineholm
and
or
