Borgvik

Sights Events Food Accommodation

CONTENTS

Sights10 quick ones with Oscar MagnussonSliperietFoundry RuinMidsummer CelebrationEngine Day10 quick ones with Ann-Marie LarssonLight and CultureBeech Forest Mound 113Borgvik RiverFood10 quick ones with Karin Persson HaasAccommodationMapDistances

Produced by Helena Bergström and Maria Röhr, Grums kommun.

Photos: Øyvind Lund, Ewa Gustavsson, Helena Bergström, Tommie Ohlson, Tony Axelsson, Lars-Olov Hagberg, Thomas Adolfsén och Thomas Schön.

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6Iron Weighing Machine

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SightsSliperiet, art gallery, see page 7. Foundry Ruin, see page 9.

Museum of BorgvikThe museum was originally a granary that was used for drying grain. In connection with Billerud’s 100th anniversary in 1983 it was rebuilt into a museum which hosted an exhibition on the forests and forestry. Today Borgvik’s historical society shows a permanent exhibition about the iron’s course from the forest to the finished product, as well as small exhibitions. You can also digitally seek historical information about places and people in Borgvik.

Church of BorgvikThe Church in Borgvik is known for its beautiful ceiling paintings and deco-rations made by Michael Carovwky. The church was opened in 1718, alt-hough not completed. The belfry tower and the sacristy were added later. Between the years 1946-1951, a restoration was made which restored the original decorations. Borgvik is a popular church for baptism and marriage.

Boa Boa has been a store since 1834. When the last merchant Carl Andersson retired, Borgvik’s historical society took over the store. Today they run a shop here in the summer with locally produced crafts and products. In a part of of Boa you can see some of what Carl had in stock.

Locksmith’s WorkshopRepair workshop for the mill. The north side was used for forging and the south as a carpentry workshop. Forging operations continued until the 1950s. Today the locksmith’s workshop is part of Borgviks museum, with a melting hammer parked in the south and a fully equipped locksmith’s workshop in the north.

The Old School - Lilla Bohemen Interior & DesignSales of furniture, handicrafts, spices, teas and more.

Ateljé MysenStudio with sales including jewelry and paintings.

Baker’s CottageThe Baker’s Cottage has two rooms. To the north lies the bakery with bread oven and associated benches; to the south lies a room with a loft, a so called stove room. The stove room is where Hedda Nilsdotter lived with her oldest daughter Hilda. They were the last residents of the Baker’s Cottage. Today bread is made here like in the old days.

Iron Weighing MachineLog building from the first half of the 19th century. The iron weighing mach-ine was placed here to weigh the iron before it was transported elsewhere. The products from the iron works were shipped out to large parts of the world.

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10 quick ones: Oscar Magnusson

Why did you choose Borgvik? The environment and nature.

Favorite artist? Robert Rauschenberg.

Favorite dish? I eat everything! But preferably seafood.

Best ”favorite spot” in Borgvik?Hmm ... if I’m not going to say Sliperiet I choose a quiet walk in the beech forest.

Favorite movie? ” One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest ”.

If you can tell us only one single thing about Borgvik, what will it be?That it is a magical place in the winter also.

What do you do if you have a whole day off? As little as possible.

Your best book recommendation? Biographies, comfortable ”hammock reading material.”

If Borgvik had a theme song/soundtrack, what song would it be?”I ungdomen” (”In My Youth”) with Mando Diao.

Favorite colour? Blue.

The entrepreneur behind the gallery Sliperiet - culture in a house.

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SLIPERIETSliperiet is a modern cultural center and art gallery in the Värmland coun-tryside. This is where the best of both worlds meet. Enjoy the amazing collection and exhibition and the lovely atmosphere. Sliperiet is 1,500 square feet that you carry with you as a memory for life.

Artists whose works are and/or have been displayed in Sliperiet include Kjell Engman, Nick Brandt, Lisa Rinnevuo, Ron Wood, David LaChapelle, Brigitte Sondergaard, Mats Bäcker, Niki Merimaa, Ernst Billgren and Amanda Ooms.

On the main floor in Sliperiet there is a museum shop and Major Larsson’s café. During the summer there are acoustic concerts where visitors sit among the arts and experience the musicians up close.

www.sliperietborgvik.se

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12Foundry Ruin

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Foundry ruinThere has been an iron works business in Borgvik since the early 1600s, however, developed most from around 1840 until the end of the century, when the great construction gradually took place.

New technologies and new businesses started and Borgvik grew from a small holding to a considerable iron works. Besides iron operations there was also mine parts, mills, farms, sawmills and forestry operations, whose products were transported on Vänern to Gothenburg and then to countries beyond the seas. Some of the iron in the Eiffel Tower came from Borgvik.

The Foundry was completed in 1865 and was then continuously running for 2 110 days until 1871 when it was shut down for overhaul. This is the longest blowing time that has occurred in a charcoal blast furnace in Sweden. In 1870 the blast furnace was the most productive of the 25 ones in Värmland, with production in line with 3 931 tons of pig iron. Borgvik also had the highest daily production corresponding to 10.8 tonnes.

Manufacturing in the foundry closed with a blowdown on October 3, 1922 and the mill closed in April 1924.

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Kungskvarnen

midsummer celebrationIt is tradition since way back to celebrate midsummer in the foundry ruin in Borgvik. Every year there are large numbers of visitors who wants to enjoy the beautiful environment and the traditional celebration, organized by Borgvik’s historical society, including dancing around the maypole, folk dances, lotteries and canon toting.

Borgvik’s Historical Society: www.borgvik.info

” Oh Vaermland, you beautiful, you magnificent landYou crown jewel among Sweden’s provinces

And if ever I should reach the Promised LandI would still return to my beloved Vaermland.

For there I want to live, there I want to dieIf one day I take me a bride from Vaermland

I know it’s something I shall never regret.”

”The Vaermland Song” (”Värmlandsvisan”)

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16The guest harbour during Borgvik’s Engine Day 2011

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engine dayBorgvik’s Engine Day is one of the biggest events in Värmland, with between 5,000 to 10,000 visitors.

There are American cars, motorcycles, mopeds, tractors, hobby airplanes, boats - both old and new, sea rescue and emergency services involved, to name a few things. Engine Day even has activities for the kids, so it’s an event for the whole family.

Engine Day has a different theme every year and it varies from land, water and air.

www.borgviksmotordag.se

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10 quick ones: Ann-Marie Larsson

Why did you choose Borgvik? Look around here in Borgvik and you will understand.

Favorite artist? Olle Eriksson.

Favorite dish? The first thing I think of is everything that my daughter in law Maria cooks.

Best ”favorite spot” in Borgvik? Down by the water at the harbor.

Favorite movie? ”Intouchables.”

If you can tell us only one single thing about Borgvik, what will it be?Here is the calm and the quiet peace.

What do you do if you have a whole day off? I spend it with my grandchildren.

Your best book recommendations? I seldom read, I have too much else going on.

If Borgvik had a theme song/soundtrack, what song would it be?”Strövtåg i hembygd” (“Ramble In Homestead”) with Mando Diao.

Favorite colour? Light purple.

Project manager for the event Engine Day in Borgvik.

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20The Iron Weighing Machine during Light and Culture 2012

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light and cultureThe event Light and Culture in Borgvik lets you experience the autumn darkness and the everyday outdoor environments turns into exciting light artwork that convey mood and stories in the evening.

Let yourself be guided around the historic iron works environment. The fine facades of the lit objects become warm and colorful. Different objects are highlighted by a creative and artistic lighting.

Klaraborg and Sliperiet, the port area, the Iron Scale and Old Harbour Office, Church, Boa, museum, cabin ruins and Kungskvarnen are highligh-ted, as are many more details in the environment around it.

www.ljusochkulturiborgvik.se

22Bokhult

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Beech forestIn Borgvik you can find one of Sweden’s few northern beech forests. The area is called Bokhult and consists of 4.5 hectares naturally regenerated beech forest with occasional hints of other tree species, mainly birch and oak.

Around Bokhult is a hiking trail. The area has a significant impact on the village, both for physical and spiritual recreation and as a teaching element of the local school. Species richness is high in terms of fauna, herbs and woody plants.

24Tank barrier adjacent to Sliperiet

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mound 113During the standby time the military made extensive construction work in Borgvik. Mound 113 was included in the southern part of the so-called main stand, which was a highly-developed line of defense in the interior Värm-land. The Mound was built mostly during the latter part of the war.

Altogether in the battalion area there are about 150 military foxholes with associated military guard system. One of them is the KG-hat with an unusual design and the only one of its kind located in Värmland. Mound 113 is largely preserved and a rarely seen example of preserved mounds in connection with settlements.

During the years 1940-1945 about 1 200 men was constantly garrisoned at Mound 113 Borgvik. On rare occasions, when the situation was tense, there is said to have been up to 5000 men. Most were guard soldiers, but also building troops were in place.

26The fall by the Foundry Ruin

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borgvik riverThe Borgvik River flows into Åsfjorden, Vänern, via Lake Borgvik and the Grums Fjord and drains including Lake Värmeln. The river’s total length is 65 km including headwaters.

In the past, the river was called “Värma”, a name that is likely to have for-med the basis of the county name Värmland. Early inhabitants of the river had given it that name because it was always open water around the rapids in Borgvik River. Inhabitants were called ”värmar” and Värmland county name actually means ”the country of värmar.”

Today there is a power station on the foundry ruin area. The rapids are released at certain events and otherwise controlled by the water level in Värmeln. Every summer there is Bottle Race in Borgvik River, it is a lottery as determined by wich bottle comes first to the finish line. The bottles are placed in the river at Kungskvarnen and finish in the harbor.

28 The Harbour Café

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FoodWhen you visit Borgvik you can choose from several dining options.

Kungskvarnen hotel and conference serves fresh home cooked food in a cozy tavern environment. The menu is seasonal and therefore climate smart. On the terrace you have a beautiful view of the falls and Foundry ruin.

Borgviks harbor cafe in the marina area offers for instance shrimp sand_wiches, waffles and ice cream. Here you sit outside and have coffee over- looking Lake Borgvik.

Sliperiet is serving pastries, luxurious chocolates, directly imported coffees and teas as well as delicious meals.

For details call +46(0)555-420 67 or see www.grums.se/tourism

2611Baker’s Cottage

10 quick ones: Karin Persson Haas

Why did you choose Borgvik? When we got to Borgvik I fell in love right away with this beautiful and peaceful place. There is something in the energy of Borgvik that makes you relax and alight.

Favorite artist? All children that create with their original creativity.

Favorite dish? Kvarnens salad on buttered toast.

Best ”favorite spot” in Borgvik? The cape at Notboden.

Favorite movie? ”The Peaceful Warrior”.

If you can tell us only one single thing about Borgvik, what will it be?It is a place where the soul and the mind can find peace.

What do you do a if you have a whole day off? I enjoy being with my family without the musts and without phone - preferably in a sailboat on a sunny day with just enough wind.

Your best book recommendations? ”Att må dåligt är en bra början” (“Feeling bad is a good start”) by Bengt Stern.

If Borgvik had a theme song/soundtrack, what song would it be?”So Much Magnificence” by Miten & Deva Premal.

Favorite colour? Red.

Runs the company Kungskvarnen hotel and conference with her husband Håkan.

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32Mill operations were conducted here until 1954, thereafter the mill was rebuilt into a village hall. Today it houses the Kungskvarnen hotel, restaurant and conference.

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AccommodationIn Borgvik you can choose from several accommodation options, from hotels to camping.

Kungskvarnen hotel and conference is set in a tranquil and beautiful set-ting where time stands still. You sleep in fine modern hotel rooms in The Forge, The Foundry or Futten. There are 27 rooms, 60 beds, and all rooms have shower/WC. There are also two rooms with a small kitchen. In addi-tion there is a sauna and meditation spaces. Banquet room for 120 seated guests with a stage.www.kungskvarnen.se

Klaraborg – the accomodation of opportunities, have apartments in various sizes with 2-6 beds. All are individually decorated in the old style. They all have a fully equipped kitchen, sitting area with TV and a toilet with wash basin. Most apartments have a shower inside the apartment, the two smal-lest apartments have a shower nextdoor. This facility includes a relaxation area with hot tub and sauna. Moreover, there is garden furniture and bar-becue. www.klaraborg.info

A marina with camping opportunities can be found at the marina area in central Borgvik. The campsite is a few steps from Lake Borgvik. There is a service building with toilet, shower and kitchen. Wheelchair accessible. There is a free location for mobile homes located behind the museum.

For details call +46(0)555-420 67 or see www.grums.se/tourism

Klaraborg - the accommodation of opportunities

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1. Sliperiet 2. Klaraborg 3. Borgvik’s Harbour Café4. Camping5. Guest harbour6. Iron Weighing Machine7. Church of Borgvik8. Kungskvarnen Hotel & Conference9. Baker’s Cottage 10. Foundry Ruin11. The Manor12. Museum of Borgvik13. Boa14. Ateljé Mysen15. Path to the beech forest16. Locksmith’s Workshop17. Old School18. Warm Bathhouse19. Old Harbour Office20. Kuja

MAP

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GrumsStockholm

Göteborg

Malmö

Gävle

Örebro

Umeå

VästeråsUppsala

Luleå

Växjö

Falun

Jönköping

Linköping

Karlstad

Halmstad

Östersund

Kalmar

Karlskrona

Visby

Nyköping

Härnösand

BORGVIK

Oslo

Distances to/from Borgvik:

Grums 14 kmKarlstad 37,4 kmGöteborg 238,6 kmStockholm 337 kmOslo 185 km

Distances

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SWEDEN

Grums Tourist Office Sveagatan 77 664 80 GRUMS Tel. +46(0)555-420 67 E-post: turism@grums.se www.grums.se/tourism