In Fengersfors, a preserved industrial site, public exhibitions and places by the water come together. The history of the town is particularly easy to see at Fengersfors Bruk, where large parts of a red-brick complex remain, from the chimney and power station to key sections of the production line.

From ironworks to paper production

Fengersfors Bruk was founded as an ironworks in 1796. Here, bar iron was made into nails and other wrought-iron products. Production later shifted to pulp and paper. The preserved parts of the complex span the process from timber reception to the paper machine, making this transformation tangible at specific points along the way. A special piece of industrial history is the 1950 sulphate digester: it was the world’s first continuous pulp digester. In 2015, Fengersfors Bruk received the “Årets industriminne” award as Industrial Heritage Site of the Year.

Exhibitions and café at Not Quite

Not Quite hosts public exhibitions at Oceanhuset and the Not Quite Gallery. It also offers a shop, a café and various events. The Not Quite Café and Bistro has been located in the old smithy at Fengersfors Bruk since 2003. Here, a contemporary cultural offering meets a building from the town’s industrial history, while the exhibitions are held at two separate venues.

Knarrbyån also connects the landscape and industrial history in a distinctive way. The river is about 3 kilometres long and flows through a valley between Knarrbysjön to the north and Ärr to the south. In places, it runs underground. On the grounds of Fengersfors Bruk, Knarrbyån flows beneath part of the factory’s main building, among other places. Both its position in the valley and its course through the factory site are notable geographical features.

Knarrbysjön and routes around town

Knarrbysjöbadet is a family swimming spot on Knarrbysjön in the centre of Fengersfors. It features a small sandy beach and large grassy areas for playing. Fengersfors Ställplats, a motorhome stopover, is also located by Knarrbysjön in Fengersfors. The names reflect different uses of the lake: a swimming spot in one place, a stopover in another.

There are several routes for getting active, each with a different layout. The 2.5-kilometre exercise trail is by Fengersfors sports facility. Ronjalandsleden passes through the town; along the route are a shop, a swimming spot and a cultural centre. Fengersfors 8 takes a different course: it starts and ends in Fengersfors and forms a figure eight, first heading north around Knarrbysjön and then south around Ärr. A local exercise trail, a route through the town and a trail around two lakes offer different ways to find your bearings while spending time outdoors.

A trail with large ceramic artworks has been created on the area known as Mesafältet, southeast of the Bruk area. Fröskogs kyrka is also nearby. The wood-clad church was inaugurated on 20 December 1730; its atmospheric interior is considered an example of peasant Baroque. From the Gästesteg landing stage in Fröskog, Fengersfors Bruk is about a 3-kilometre walk. Check the conditions at the landing stage before your trip if you plan to use this connection.

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