A Swedish town by Lake Vänern with a 15-meter Picasso sculpture along its waterfront. The 17th-century trading center has colorful wooden houses and a medieval stone church.
Kristinehamn, a town of 24,000 residents in Värmland County, sits along Lake Vänern, Sweden's largest lake. You can walk to the 15-meter Picasso sculpture on the waterfront, cycle parts of the 630-kilometer Lake Vänern Grand Tour, paddle between forested islands, or step into the 19th-century rooms of Lundbomsgården museum. Medieval stone walls still stand on Saxholmen island, where you can explore the ruins of a 14th-century fortress.
Getting to Kristinehamn
Kristinehamn sits exactly 250 kilometers from Oslo, Stockholm, and Gothenburg. Regular trains connect the town to major Swedish cities, and several highways intersect here. When you walk from the train station to the town center (about 10 minutes), you'll pass rows of wooden buildings from the 1800s.
Lake Vänern and Islands
Lake Vänern spans 5,650 square kilometers and contains 22,000 islands, making it Europe's third-largest lake. From June to August, daily boat tours take you between the main islands. At the marina, you can rent kayaks to paddle to Vålön, Kalvön, and Sibberön islands. Each island has marked hiking trails and designated swimming areas. The marina has public grilling stations and boat rentals.
Cycling and Mountain Biking
You can cycle sections of the Lake Vänern Grand Tour, which winds 630 kilometers on paved roads and gravel paths along the shoreline. For mountain biking, choose from five marked trails ranging from 3 to 15 kilometers. The trails wind through pine forests and past lake viewpoints, with signs showing difficulty levels and emergency coordinates.
Art and Museums
The 15-meter Picasso sculpture stands by Vålösundet bay, created in 1965. At the Kristinehamn Art Museum, you'll find new contemporary exhibitions every two months alongside a permanent collection of Nordic art. The history museum displays iron shipping tools and explains the town's role in Sweden's iron trade through interactive exhibits. At Lundbomsgården, walk through preserved 1800s rooms with original furniture and everyday objects from the period.
Winter Activities
From January to March, when weather conditions allow, you can skate on Lake Vänern's frozen surface. In winter, the forest trails transform into 20 kilometers of groomed cross-country ski tracks. During December weekends, local artisans sell handmade crafts and traditional food at Christmas markets in the town square.
