Explore the surroundings of Lund

By Malin Norman | Photos: Visit Lund

In Lund, it is easy to combine a lively urban atmosphere with cycling excursions, nature experiences and rural charm. Venture beyond the historic city centre to explore the gems beyond the obvious.

The medieval city of Lund, with cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses, is known for its rich history and culture, as well as a buzzing city life with fantastic museums, shopping and culinary offerings. But nature is always close by, and excursions in the surroundings can easily be combined with city life. In short, there is a lot to explore in and around Lund.

Torna Hällestad Lanthandel.

Dalby and Sweden’s smallest national park

Set your sights on the small town of Dalby. This is home to the oldest preserved stone church in the Nordics, dating back to the 11th century, with beautiful surroundings and a wonderful view towards the city of Lund. Interestingly, Dalby church was the seat of a bishop for a short time, Egino from Germany, but he was eventually moved to Lund Cathedral.

Within walking and cycling distance is Sweden’s smallest national park, Dalby Söderskog. It was established in 1918 to preserve what was then described as a southern Swedish deciduous forest.

After exploring the national park and other nearby nature reserves, enjoy a tasty lunch or dinner at the historic Dalby Gästis, an inn dating back to 1666. The talented kitchen team takes inspiration from the world’s different cuisines and uses ingredients from the local area.

Häckeberga. Photo: Lunds Kommun

Prästaskogen and Torna Hällestad Lanthandel

Hiking around Prästapromenaden is also a must. These trails take you through the Prästaskogen nature reserve. You can choose between a short, easier, circular route and a longer one. The hike goes over pastures with mighty oaks and wide views, through swamp forests and magical beech forests. You also have the possibility to extend the hike to the Skåneleden route at Skrylleslingan, with lots of outdoors activities.

When in this area, also check out Torna Hällestad Lanthandel. This is a fantastic shop, bakery, restaurant and café based on local, sustainably produced ingredients. It serves coffee, lunch of the day, and brunch on weekends. Torna Hällestad also hosts events throughout the year, such as concerts, Oktoberfest, a Christmas market, and more.

Dalby Gästis. Photo: Katie Driscoll

Häckeberga: colourful castle on an island

On an island in the middle of the Häckeberga nature reserve outside Genarp lies Häckeberga Castle. Here, all the senses are engaged from the moment you step inside the door. Beautiful patterns, surprising details, antiques, art and beautiful textiles in exotic draperies meet the eye in a colourful sensuality that brings to mind Arabian Nights and Alice in Wonderland. You can also stay the night, for an unforgettable hotel experience.

In Häckeberga, this is where Romeleåsen meets the plains. The landscape is undulating with lush forests and flowering pastures. It bears traces of both mill environments and kings. At the same time, the unusual tree frog and leatherback beetle have found a sanctuary here. Vattenmöllan is a good starting point for hiking. This reserve is part of a larger outdoor recreation area on Romeleåsen and around Lake Häckeberga.

For the adventurous, there are three mountain bike trails: Häckeberga, Björnstorp and Risen. From Ekevallen’s parking lot in Genarp, you can reach all three trails. Of the three, Häckeberga is the longest and takes you around Lake Häckeberga.

Sweden’s eight biosphere reserve

All of these places are included in the new Storkriket Biosphere Reserve, which is a 110,000-hectare, mostly flat area surrounded by ridges to the north and south. It has open landscapes, light forests, winding rivers and sandy lake beaches, and a mix of old roadside villages and modern urban settings.

The Skåneleden trail runs through Storkriket and there are a number of country roads suitable for cyclists. UNESCO has designated Storkriket as Sweden’s eighth biosphere reserve, and it is now part of a worldwide network of places where people and nature interact for a sustainable future.

Explore the surroundings of Lund