Scenic Seats
For teenage couples making out and pensioners having a rest: Scenic seating has a central role in the spirit of the Swedish people. They give support and rest, the possibility for reflection and tingling love. They listen to whatever – quietly and understanding.
Here are 11 beautifully situated places for all philosophers, romantics and picnic-prone people.
Gröna kullen (The green hill)
Where the river Ätran opens up and reveals Falkenberg in all its glory, lies two brilliant picnic tables on a green hill. Buy and bring a treat from town and have an outdoor lunch with the town’s most impressive view.
Spritan
Bacchus, or “spritanrakan” as it’s commonly known locally, has always been a sanctuary for swimmers afraid of the sand. The benches are brilliant for philosophical reflections after an evening dip on a temperate summer’s evening.
The secret seat in the dunes
Up in the thickets, in the dunes between the pier and Bacchus, hides this jewel of a bench. Sit yourself down with a cold drink and let the ocean winds clear your thoughts. The scratches that you might suffer is a small price to pay.
Bengtesgårds bench
Have a seat, listen to the birdsong and hear the wind sing in the leaves of the big oaks and hazels. If you still have a childlike mind you can also climb the large rock, warmed by the sun, just close by.
The haven of Vallarna
A stone’s throw from Vallarna is a scenic sofa that most of the time is surrounded by beautiful flowers, and has a baffling view. Escape the dim of Vallarna and have that nap you are so deserving of.
The Vicarage isle by church in Vinberg
In the lush grove by the vicarage in Vinberg are these seats and a folly in the 18th century style. Have a seat, feel the reverence and perhaps the historical presence of the legendary author Olof von Dalin.
Benches for Daydreaming
To walk to the beach can seem an impossible project. If you walk along the river Ätran there is salvation a short distance from the centre of town in the form of two benches for daydreaming, designed for relaxing comfort. If you have time to get hungry, the pizzeria Lilla Napoli is just a stone’s throw away.
The Magnificent in Vesslunda
It’s tough to get here; You have to walk through beautiful scenery, listen to the steady swelling of the sea and smell the heather and salty winds. But if you manage to overcome these tribulations the reward is waiting for you in the form of a bench, wide enough to bear several friends at once and with a panoramic view of the west-coast ocean.
The Icebreaker of Ätran
By the river Ätran’s roaring rapids, via a squiggly set of stairs, you find this luxurious bench. Bring a kebab roll, a “fika” or an ice-cold ice cream and have a seat. Because of the noise this bench is perhaps not suitable for hearty conversations, so it’s perfect if you need to avoid embarrassing silence.
Rosa’s Bench at Grimsholmen
There are plenty of nice seats in the Grimsholmen nature reserve. Actually, lots. All very nice. But a favourite, particularly if you want company, is probably the picnic table hidden away behind a little pine tree just at the beginning of the trail, overlooking the sea, the meadow and the cattle, longing for company.
For soft bottoms
Wood and metal are the most common materials for resting your seat. That’s why the incredibly beautiful stone benches along Doktorspromenaden, a few hundred meters upstream from Tullbron, offer a welcome change. Few places to sit evoke such a sense of history as a stone bench that has provided rest for generations.