Discover Ankarsrum through its industrial history and local trails: Bruksparken features art and an industrial museum, while the various hiking routes offer different lengths. There is also Långsjön, a place to go swimming, and museums with their own collections. You can tailor your stay to the themes that interest you most.

Industrial history and art in Ankarsrum

Ankarsrums bruk was founded in 1655, after formal royal permission was granted to build a blast furnace. Its location between the lakes Långsjön and Hällsjön made it possible to harness hydropower for the works. The lakes are therefore part of both the local landscape and the history of this industrial town.

Ankarsrum Church offers another perspective on this history: completed in 1896, it is built entirely from slag stone, a by-product of iron production in Ankarsrum. The church’s construction makes a tangible connection between the local works and a later building visible, showing that the area’s industrial history extends beyond the walls of individual museums.

Bruksparken is home to a monument erected by artist Erik Reimhult in 1955 to mark the 300th anniversary of Ankarsrums bruk. There is also a bust of Harald Wiberg, an artist born in Ankarsrum. According to local tradition, the cast-iron statue “Bedjande gosse” was cast in Ankarsrum in the 1850s. Aktiveum is also located in Bruksparken: the industrial museum reflects different periods in the history of Ankarsrums bruk. The artworks and museum offer different perspectives—from the works’ anniversary and a connection to an artist born in Ankarsrum to the development of the business.

The Ankarsrum Local History Museum offers a different focus for its collection. It is located on the shore of Långsjön along Kungsvägen and houses folk objects and some iron objects. If you would like to explore local history through both the works and everyday objects, the two museums complement each other in different ways.

Choose hiking trails by length and connection

The Ankarsrumsslingan is 11.9 kilometres long. It is intended for both circular hikes and as a link to longer hikes on the Tjustleden. In the Ankarsrum area, the Tjustleden passes through Bruksparken. The Ankarsrumsslingan is therefore an option for a circular hike of its own or for planning a longer hike connected to the Tjustleden; these are two different possibilities and should not be conflated into a single route.

Along the Ankarsrumsslingan are the foundations of the Isgöhleströms Manufakturverk, popularly known as Spiksmedjan. The walls are made of slag stone. North of the watercourse at Isgölen, the Ankarsrumsslingan connects to the Tjustleden. When planning your hike, both the specific link to industrial history and the signposted connection to the longer trail are relevant. Trail conditions and access may change, so check before setting out.

A shorter option by stated distance is the Ankarsrum-Xrundan, at about 3.4 kilometres. It starts at the station building. At about 3.4 kilometres, the Ankarsrum-Xrundan is considerably shorter than the 11.9-kilometre Ankarsrumsslingan. If you are choosing based on distance, these are two clearly different options; neither figure implies a particular pace or duration.

The Hultsfred–Västervik narrow-gauge railway is also part of the town’s industrial heritage: the 70-kilometre railway serves Ankarsrum station, is designated a listed building and is considered an important Swedish industrial monument. If you would like to include the railway in your travel plans, check the current timetable.

Långsjön and local collections

Ankarsrum’s municipal bathing area at Långsjön has a ramp for people with disabilities. The area also includes lawns and a sandy beach. These specific features can help you plan a visit to the bathing area; the ramp is a listed facility at the site, not a statement about the accessibility of all areas in Ankarsrum.

The bathing area, the Local History Museum on the lakeshore and the sites associated with the town’s industrial history offer different focal points for a stay. You can explore the Local History Museum’s collection of folk and iron objects, discover art and industrial history in Bruksparken, or choose a hiking trail based on its stated length and connections.

Discover more destinations: Blackstad, Västervik, Gamleby, Edsbruk, Totebo, Gunnebo, Blankaholm, Överum

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