Welcome to Vilhelmina

City

About

Welcome to Vilhelmina

Vilhelmina offers you natural beauty and an interesting culture.

You will encounter different natural habitats in a dramatic combination. Here joins the forests, the fertile mountain meadows and the high mountains. All in a intangible perimeter.

Vilhelmina is also a meeting place for different cultures and ways of living. In Fatmomakke, the newly built culture along with the traditional Sami, makes an interesting mix. Still alive today are the traditional midsummer celebration and autumn weekend.

Would you like to experience hunting or fishing in a magnificent natural and come home with unforgettable memories - then Vilhelmina is the place for you. The municipality stretches from the woodlands in the East, to the mountains in the West and offers a variety of fishing and hunting.

Vilhelmina Municipality has been awarded both the "Fishing Municipality of the Year" and "Hunting Municipality of the Year."

City

Vilhelmina Municipality is situated in Västerbotten, and is Sweden's second largest county in area. It is a vast area with many different habitats - from expanding urban areas along the coast to towns in the hinterland that face emigration and failing economy. The county's economy is based on traditional industries such as wood, hydropower and mineral. But, there are also a number of small companies sprouting up that opens the doors for new businesses in the area. Tourism employs more and more people, and the small-scale food production is a growing alternative source of income.

Vilhelmina Municipality is the largest municipality in southern Lapland by area which is approximately 8,700 square kilometers. It is a large as Skåne and Blekinge put together. Vilhelmina has about 7,400 inhabitants, of which about half live in the urban areas of Vilhelmina. The remainder live in small villages scattered over the municipality.

The Vilhelmina Municipality's website says that in Vilhelmina the word "levnadsutrymme" (outdoor living room) is a good word to describe the area. Even though the area is so large in size, public services function extremely well in every corner of the mucipality. Schools and kindergartens are often relatively small. Vilhelmina has a well-functioning social service with child care, educational opportunities and good elderly care. The urban area has a rich social community. The mountains attract many, and they are around every corner.

The Town Hall is a hub of opportunities for active leisure and cultural activities. Opportunities for higher education and learning centers in the area. The Upper secondary school is one of the country's most modern.

Sagadal is Vilhelmina's airport, and the flight time to Stockholm is two hours. Bus connections are said to be good both within the municipality and to other municipalities. Bus times may often be adapted to fit children's school times, so many still have to use the car to get to work.

More information is on Vilhelmina's own site.
www.vilhelmina.se

History

From a Church Village to Modern Municipality

Vilhelmina grew from a village in the late 1700s. At that time, it was called Volgsjö and had about 230 inhabitants. In 1804, the name was changed to Vilhelmina after Queen Fredrika Dorotea Vilhelmina Sofia Ulrika whom reigned during that time.

See and Do

Swimming

Bathing Places

Bathe in Vilhelmina's pool, an indoor pool with whirlpool and sauna or in one of our scenic inland lakes.

Family Activities

Boat Tours

Take a boat tour from Kultsjön to Fatmomakke.

Experience the Culture

Visit Vilhelmina's Church Village, Heritage -
museum, The Sameslöjd Gallery, Town Hall, Lapplisa Museum, Idbacka Sculpture Park, Fatmomakke, Ricklundgården (Open Air museum), Norgefarargården (Open Air museum), Pålsson Cottage and the Motorcycle Museum in Dikanäs.

Paddle a Canoe

Canoe Safaris with a guide or independently.

Fishing

Get the Fish to Bite

Try our exciting lakes, with a guide or on your own. Capture precious fish in our mountain waters or in the lakes and rivers found in the forests.

Museum

Lapp-Lisa Museum

Lapp-Lisa Museum can be found at Lapp-Lisas birthplace, Mark, about 35 km Northwest of Vilhelmina. The museum tells the fascinating story of the settler girl who became a world famous singer - her life and career. The museum is a photographic exhibition and the objects in the museum have been dedicated by Lapp-Lisas family and friends. A life-size bronze statue of Lapp-Lisa stands outside the museum.
c/o Bygdell, Mark 25, Vilhelmina
+46 70-246 31 07
www.lapplisa.vilhelmina.com

Vilhelmina Heritage Museum

The museum is housed in the old parishes house from the 1890s and is located in the town church. The museum's collections reflect our history from ancient to contemporary. Tools from the settlers households are the focus of the collections. Among the finest sights is "Maksjöfyndet" in the ancient section - a rich grave discovered from the 700-century and a ski from the 4th century.

Vilhelmina museum has a searchable collection of over 6 000 registered objects. Here you find rustic tools, Sami objects, prehistoric artifacts and a few things from our own time.
Museigatan 2, Vilhelmina
+46 940-144 97
www.vilhelmina.se/~abm/index.html

Vilhelmina Museum

Vilhelmina Museum is housed in the old parish house from the 1890s to early 1900s and reflects our history from ancient to contemporary.
The collection consists of ancient objects and objects from the 1800s and early 1900s, which reflects the household's for the Sami and later settlers to the Vilhelmina area. The collection of stone, bronze and Iron Age has been described as an unusually wide assortment for a local museum.

Vilhelmina Museum began by the formation of a heritage and tourist association in 1941 and had a large local history exhibition at Volgsjö School in Vilhelmina, during the summer of 1942. The purpose was to celebrate the Public School's 100-year anniversary in Sweden. The motto of the exhibition was "Past-Present-Future." The majority of old appliances were loaned from people in the villages. Then, most were willing to donate the objects as the base for a parish / community museum.

During the summer of 1943, Vilhelmina museum opened in the old parish house on the initiative of the local historical association. The rooms were renovated in 1967 and a new set of objects were arranged.
Kyrkstan, Storgatan 7, Vilhelmina
+46 940-141 63
www.vasterbottensmuseum.se/oar/vilhelmina/vil_museum.html

Nature

Be Guided

Biking, hunting and fishing trips with a guide or rent a Digital Guide and enjoy a GPS-based tour of the Wilderness Road.

Discover the Beauty

Visit a nature reserve or enjoy the scenery along Saga Road and Wilderness Road.

Mountain or Cycling Trails

Hike or bike in the mountains. Take a trip to Blaikfjället, Satsfjället, Marsfjället, Grönfjället or any one of the other scenic areas.

Nature in the Wilderness

Vilhelmina offers both natural and cultural experiences. Here are spruce and pine forests, marshes, fertile mountain meadows and massive barren mountain areas. Vilhelmina offers fishing, hunting, fitness, habitat, recreation and nature experiences. There are winter tours for cross-country skiing, snowmobile and vessel tours, along with ice fishing.

The Kittelfjäll area is marketed as "Cool Kittelfjäll" - the village with big adventures. You can go enjoy one of Sweden's most different and fun skiing systems. Not only is it known as the country's best off-piste, but there also opportunities for horse riding, good food, wildlife and relaxation. During the summer, there is mountain hiking, canoeing, climbing, hunting and fishing.

The Klimpfjäll area has focused on activities and nature. Cultural experiences are offered in the calm and undisturbed Swedish mountains, mountain walks in the summer, kalfjäll (bare mountain regions) and the Stekenjokk plateau with the Wilderness Road. From Norgefarargården begins the old hiking trails and Norgefararleden, the trading trail.

In Fatmomakke, the settler and Sami cultures have created an interesting mix.

Parks

Idbacka Sculpture Park

The park exudes tranquility, power and love of the Lapland Nature. If your looking for a nature experience, inspiration, meditation, power, or harmony, then the park is a suitable destination and is located on the tourist route between Åsele and Vilhelmina. Open for groups and the general public by arrangement.
+46 940-49 50 24
peter@idbacka.com
www.idbacka.com

Worth Seeing

Fatmomakke - Sami Ancient Culture and Church Site

Fatmomakke is a unique environment along the beach of lake Kultsjön which was rescued as a culture area of historical interest. The church site has been used by the Sami during the late 1700's, and also by the settlers in the area. The beautiful little wooden church from 1881 - 1884, which is still used today, is well preserved and has an outstanding altarpiece painting. Sami huts and storage cabins are grouped along the paths up to the slopes, while the settlers timber houses were placed down towards the beach. Fatmomakke is still a Sami meeting place for religious events and entertainment. Midsummer in Fatmomakke is one of the highlights of the year. The church is open during the summer. Fatmomakke also has a culture room in cottage No 27. A 50 square meter area, divided into two rooms and a hall displaying the exhibition "To meet in Fatmomakke".
+46 940-730 60
www.fatmomakke.se

Norgefarargården (Culture Farm)

Norgefarargården in Klimpfjäll. Vilhelmina's only cultural farm. It was the last port of call for those who went on trade trips to Norway. There are fantastic views over Lake Kultsjön with Marsfjällen and Autjoklimpen Mountains in the background. In the courtyard, you can buy local crafts of the highest quality in an atmosphere from the turn of the century. For the children, there are animals on the farm. Cafe.
+46 940-712 71, +46 940-710 75
www.norgefarargarden.se

Pålssons Cottage

Lars Pålsson was the first settler in Marsliden. In 1856, he took his family from Fjällboberg to settle here in Lapland country. Settlers coming here and settling down received in return, free use of the land for a number of years. The first settlers lived by farming the land, where hunting and fishing was an integral part of daily life. Bernard Nordh described the hard life, hardships and suffering by the people in area in several books, for which "In March the Mountain Shadow" is the best known. The book, "In March the Mountain Shadow" has been printed in several editions, in several languages, and has sold several hundred thousand copies. In the 1950s, Bernard Nordh was one of the most widely read English authors, together with names such as Jan Fridegård, William Moberg and Ivar Lo-Johansson. Also during that time, life in the area was filmed for a television series called "Nybyggarland." Today, there is a replica of the home in Marsliden where Liden Lars Pålsson lived with his family - the Pålsson Cottage. Visit and experience the environment and atmosphere.

Ricklundagården (Art Museum)

Art Museum and Guest Studios. A well-worth seeing Mediterranean villa from the 40's. Artists came here from near and far. The museum shares exciting oriental things with objects from the mountain district. There is also a unique art collection.
Saxnäs, Marsfjäll
+46 940-700 14
post@ricklundgarden.com
www.ricklundgarden.com

Vilhelmina Church Town

The unique Church Town dates back to 1792, when the first church was inaugurated in Vilhelmina, and lies at the center, below the church. The Church Town has been renovated in consultation with the National Heritage Board and today contains church cottages which can be rented to visitors.

Originally, the church used the cottages on weekends for the rural population. In it's finished state, the Church Town included 75 cottages and shaped one of the largest plants of its kind. In 1921, there was a devastating fire which left much of the area in ruins. There were 27 cottages remaining and you can still see and experience them today.
+46 940-152 70
tuby@vilhelmina.se
www.kyrkstan.vilhelmina.com

Other

Events

Enjoy the Heritage Days, Midsummer celebrations in Fatmomakke, theater performances, Mikaeli market.

Risfjells Sami Handicrafts Gallery

The gallery is in the church town. You can see and buy Sami handicrafts (horn, wood, tin, knives, crafts supplies, etc.) in a nice garden environment. You can also see Sven-Åke Risfjell making one of his works and hear him tell about the Sami culture. Also, see the world's largest Sami knife, 2.5 m. long and weighs 87.5 kg.
+46 940-152 05

Rock Climbing

Try rock climbing in the Swedish mountains along the secured part of Kittelfjäll.

Shopping

There are many great shopping opportunities in our well-stocked department stores and boutiques for all tastes.