UNIQUE PLACES to VISIT PITEÅ CITY PITEÅ to ÄLVSBYN Piteå Is Located on the Southern Coast of Swedish Lapland, at the Distance 52 Km
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
UNIQUE PLACES TO VISIT PITEÅ CITY PITEÅ TO ÄLVSBYN Piteå is located on the southern coast of Swedish Lapland, at the Distance 52 km. Travel time approx 40 min. mouth of the Pite River and not far from the arctic circle. a place of PITEÅ ÄLVSBYN STORFORSEN contrasts. Light and darkness, warmth and cold, the mountains and ATTRACTIONS the archipelago. Sweden’s highest water temperatures are often STORMYRBERGET recorded at Pite Havsbad which is known as the Nordic Riviera – Feel the scent of new-mown hay, a soft horse muzzle against your hand. Enjoy a trip The Pite River Valley is located in the southern region of Swedish The first half of the overall journey from Piteå to Jokkmokk hard to believe if you heard the ice crunching against the hull of the to the forest landscape or a delicious meal made from on-farm products. Stormyr- berget is a farm stay and guesthouse just to the north of Piteå. Set in the rolling Lapland and this touring route describes the area from the follows the Pite river, through forest land, and past the mighty icebreaker Arctic Explorer a few months earlier. The sea of the Gulf farms lands close between the river and the forest lands. Ideal for both a day visit municipalities of Piteå and Älvsbyn, across the arctic circle and Storforsen falls, Europes largest rapids. From Storforsen to of Bothnia also serves as an area for skating, dog sledding and snow with lunch or stay a night or two in one of the farm cottages. on to Jokkmokk. Piteå council is located by the coast and is the Jokkmokk you will journey through a region of lakes and mobile safaris in the winter months. You are almost sure to have snow here from the Christmas season. In both cases you will feel like largest municipality with a population of 42,000, of which 22,000 forest and cross the arctic circle before arriving at the village of you are visiting friends as the Summertime with lazy days on the beach is varied with activities and family makes you welcome and live in the main town, Piteå. There are large sawmills, pulp and Jokkmokk. Jokkmokk has the annual winter market starting on part of their daily farm life. events for all ages. Piteå Tourist Center has up to date information maria Fäldt Photo: paper mills in the municipality. Forestry is also an important the first Thursday of February each year has for over 400 years regarding all of the local experiences. Activities available on day visits industry in the area and it shares more or less the same areas as attracted thousands of people for music, exhibitions and trade. include horse riding for children, Piteå Tourist Center: +46 (0)911-933 90, www.pitea.se/en beginners or advanced riders, those used for traditional reindeer herding. guided walks to the mountain The highlights of this route include the Piteå archipelago, a and forest, farmers ATTRACTIONS golf and fishing. For those stay- part of the greater Swedish Lapland Archipelago which has over DON’T MISS: ing a night or two you also have 4,000 islands. The city of Piteå has excellent shopping, activities PITEÅ ARCHIPELAGO access to fishing gear, cycling, • Sand between your toes at the beach on the coast of Piteå. and accommodation in a range of styles. Here you will also find a There are 550 islands in the Piteå archipelago and over 530 kilometers of costal 4 wheel drive and the sauna. • The roaring rapids of Storforsen water fall. beaches, of which 230 km are island beaches. The longest unexploited beach is Hotel, Cabin & Camping Resort located on the coast overlooking 13 kilometers. Piteå archipelago is unique. The combination of the land rise, the SIKFORS KONFERENS AND FRITIDSBY the archipelago called Pite Havsbad. • Shopping of loala products brackish water environment, largely unexploited areas, the shallow sea and beach areas, provide very special environment. The archipelago reaches all the way to Sikfors Konferens and Fritidsby is a • The different tastes of Swedish Lapland served up at local the town center with harbors in the north, south and east. The visitor center has up hotel, cabin, camping and holiday village in a beautiful setting on the bank of the Pite river. There is a very well appointed restaurant and bar restaurants or cafe, take a swedish fika. to date information on timetable for transfers to the islands. Activities available include kayaking, canoeing, hiking, fishing and saunas are often available alongside attached to the hotel or you can self cater in your cabin or camping site. • To take a stroll in the forest and soak up the sense of freedom. rental cabins. Activities include fishing, mini golf, sauna and hottub, outdoor swimming pool and local museum. The menu • Stay up late and enjoy the northen lights or the light summer here always includes the local PITE HAVSBAD – OCEAN BATH speciality Pite Palt. Photo: Pite havsabd Pite Photo: nights. Pite Havsbad is a camping, cabin and hotel resort with a range of activities for all ages including an indoor Water Park. Pite Havsbad is also one of the biggest tourism and conference centers in Northern Europe. Whether you’re looking for relaxation, excitement or entertainment you will find the facilities here. Relaxing time on the beach is spiced up with activities such as the Skeppet (The Ship), golf, go-carts, beach volleyball and street basket. Photo: Stina Eriksson Photo: Photo: Stina Eriksson Photo: Photo: Pite havsabd Pite Photo: ÄLVSBYN Softly nestled between forested mountains next to the river, Älvsbyn is,called pearl of Norrbotten. This originated in an analogy between Älvsbyn’s top down view and a gemstone, with a glittering azure strip on one edge encased by high and steep mountains. Wide open spaces, large old growth forest, open land- scapes, lakes, mountains and the river, yes a lot can be found here. www.alvsbyn.se/visit GET MORE INFORMATION FROM THE LOCAL TOURISM OFFICE/WEB PITEÅ: Bryggargatan 14, Piteå +46 (0)911-933 90 www.pitea.se/en ÄLVSBYN: Storgatan 27, Älvsbyn +46 (0)929-108 60 www.alvsbyn.se/visit ÖJEBYN OLD CHURCH TOWN Richardson Graeme Photo: The village that grew up around the church consists of cottages used for overnight STORFORSEN DURING SUMMERTIME stays by members of the local congregation who often travelled long distances to Storforsen nature reserv +46 (0)929-108 60 www.alvsbyn.se/visit attend services. In June or July each year a church market is held in accordance with ancient tradition. The oldest parts of the medieval stone church date back to the fifteenth century and the clock-tower is probably the oldest building in Norrbot- ten. The authentic and well-preserved church village and church village museum are open for visits during the summer. PITEÅ BOAT MUSEUM People have been sailing and fishing along the coast and in the archipelago for ATTRACTIONS hundreds of years. Step back in time and find out more at the Piteå Boat Museum. CHURCH VILLAGE Photo: Sanne Brännström Photo: SHOPPING In connection with the church was built some 30 church cottages for the villagers to Piteå has a long tradition as a regional shopping center. There are two malls in the facilitate visits for important weekends. Most of the cottages were built during the center of Piteå, Gallerian and Småstaden along the pedestrian street (Sweden’s 1800s. The church cottages are owned and still used by parishioners. Photo: Sanne Brännström Photo: first) you will find both larger chains and small unique shops. At Rabarber Konst- hantverk you will find local art and handicraft products for sale. Open air cafés in POLARBRÖD a pleasant small town environment complete the experience. Back City, with its 25 During 1950 a small family owned café and bakery was started with traditional stores and its close location to the city center is an attractive retail area where you bread from the region. Soon it grew and now the bakery distributes their bread can find something for the whole family from the wide range that our stores offer. to Finland, Denmark, Britain, Germany and France. You can reach us easily by car or bus and there is always free parking. ÄLVSBYHUS The north’s largest producer of prefabricated houses of wood. In 40 years they have delivered houses to more than 24,000 families in Scandinavia. ÄLVSBYN TO STORFORSEN SWEDISH FIKA Photo: Marcel Köppe Marcel Photo: Distance 45 km. Travel time approx 45 min. A social cup of coffee ATTRACTIONS Swedes prefer not to translate the word fika. They don’t want it to RACKBERGET NATURE RESERVE Pensionatet Photo: lose significance and become a mere coffee break. It is one of the first Rackberget is a mountain that lies immediately to the north of Älvsbyn. Many rare words you will learn when visiting Sweden, right after tack (thank you) plants grow on the hillside, which is a designated nature reserve. There are marked and hej (hello). trails and established barbecue areas on the mountain, which is popular with locals, and conveniently situated for visitors. This is understandably popular with Fika is much more than having a coffee. It is a social phenomenon, rock climbers. Rackberget is a nature reserve with its mountain peak is 254 meters a legitimate reason to set aside a moment for quality time. Fika can above sea level. On the steep, sunny south cliff are several demanding plants Baneberry, mezereon and lily of the valley. Location is just outside Älvsbyn, along happen at any time, morning as well as evening. It can be savoured at road 374 there are marked trails and barbecue areas.