Vallarna

This scenic promenade is just a stone’s throw away from the busy town and leads you through beautiful scenery along the Ätran river. Beautiful views The peaceful Doktorspromenaden runs along the Ätran river and is a truly beautiful walkway, where you walk under proud trees that frame the river with their sturdy crowns. The river Ätran is one of Sweden’s premier salmon fishing waters, and during the fishing season you will almost certainly encounter one or several fishermen trying out their luck in the river. A historical walk Doktorspromenaden got its name from Dr. Gustaf Adam Ehrengranath, who was Falkenberg’s town doctor in the period 1856-1877. He wanted to give the local townfolk the opportunity to go for relaxing walks, spending his own money to establish the walkway that now bears his name. On the way, you will pass a well with a pedestal of Dr. Ehrengranath. The walkway was completed in 1861 and is two kilometres long. Walk around the river Ätran Once you make it to the end, you can cross over the nearby bridge (Laxbron) and walk along Laxpromenaden on your way back to town, making it a pleasant walk of around four kilometres. At the Tourist Information Office, you can pick up the brochure “Walk along Ätran” if you want to read more about the sites you will pass by along the way.

Falkenberg’ Salmonfishing offers an exciting wild salmon and trout fishing experience. The salmon in the Ätran river are thriving today thanks to conservation efforts, and it is now the strongest population of Atlantic wild salmon in Sweden. So come and take up the challenge in the gushing waters of Ätran! It is only a short walk from the centre of the town to your next fishing experience. Falkenbergs Laxfiske At Falkenberg Laxfiskeexternal link you can find all the information you need about fishing licences, reporting, rules, fishing tips and much more. There is plenty of signage around the area, and you can easily buy a fishing licence via your mobile phone. The fishing area extends from the upper boundary in Hertingforsen to the lower boundary in Hålan and is divided into three stretches:    Hertingforsen - New fly-fishing stretch in the old restored riverway past the power station. Laxbron - approx. 100 metres downstream of Tullbron. A classic fly and spin-fishing area divided into eight pools. Hålan – a popular area for trout fishing, but also for fishing with children for flounder or chub. Buy your fishing licence here Fishing licences can be purchased via iFiske.se or at Falkenberg’s Tourist Information Office. When can I go fishing? The fishing season for salmon and sea trout runs from 1 April to 30 September, and fishing is permitted between the hours 5:00 - 23:00. The fishing cottage is usually open during those hours. Fishing caretakers are available from 7:30 - 9:30 as well as 17:00 - 19:00.

Bring your family, friends or colleagues along for a fun activity in the middle of Vallarna’s beautiful open-air recreation area. Disc golf is a game that anyone can play, and all you need is a frisbee. Golfing with a frisbee Disc golf is similar to traditional golf in many ways, but instead of playing with a ball and clubs, disc golf is played with frisbees, which come in a variety of types, plastics and weights. You can also just play with a regular frisbee. In disc golf, every ‘hole’ is a metal basket that replaces the hole in traditional golfing. The player who has had to toss the frisbee the least amount of times after the last hole has been played for is the winner. Play when you want DiscGolf Park is located in the Vallarnas Friluftsområde (Vallarna Open-air Recreation Area) and has nine holes/baskets. You start near Boulecenter. The park is always open and has free admission.

There’s even more fun to be had at Vallarna. The hobby horse arena is located down by the mini zoo and is always open. Build your own course with obstacles to suit your level. Hobby horses are available for hire between 8:00 and 15:00 but feel free to bring your own. Of course, you can also jump the course just fine without one!

After a while at Vallarnas Lekpark, you may be ready for new adventures. Follow the path into the forest behind the playground and make sure to say hello to the goats, sheep and various birds. There is also a tricky obstacle course where you can test out your log-balancing skills. Go exploring Once you get to Vallarna, the massive playground has plenty of entertainment to keep the children occupied for hours. But there is far more than ‘just’ a playground to explore here. In the forest, you will come across “Vilses stig” (“The Path for the Lost”), which teaches you what to do if you get lost. The path has a total of 10 signs you can learn from. Mini-zoo Continue following the path, and you’ll soon find that it opens up to beautiful green spaces and a house in the distance that belongs to the mini-zoo. Sheep, goats and several different varieties of chickens and birds live there. If you are visiting in the spring, you will most likely also see a number of mischievous kittens and lambs running around. The pigs live a short walk away, past the entrance to Vallarnas Friluftsteater (Vallarna Open-air Theatre). Äventyrsbanan (The Adventure Course) Adjacent to the mini-zoo is a fun course where you have to try balancing on logs without falling down. Why not challenge each other to see who can get through it the fastest? The area also has tables and benches where you can take a break and have a snack.

If you enjoy playing a game of boules, you’ve come to the right place. You can play boules in beautiful surroundings in Vallarnas Friluftsområde all year round. Welcome! About the club The facility is owned by Falkenbergs Bouleallians (Falkenberg Boules Alliance), which has around 600 members distributed across 11 clubs from Falkenberg and the local area - as well as one group who call themselves Optimisterna (The Optimists). The last group is made up of people who have some sort of debilitating illness or injury. Start playing The amount of clubs that make up the Alliance makes it easy to find a group that’s perfect for you, and you’ll quickly feel at home. Socialising is a key aspect of the Alliance and its clubs. The boules centre is located by Vallarnas Friluftsområde (Vallarna Open-air Area) just outside the city centre, with ample parking.

At the skate park in Vallarna, you can practice skating and tricks with your skateboard or kickbike. It is a fun and active hangout spot for everyone who loves skateboarding.   Awesome courses for young and old The skate park consists of over 1000 square metres of concrete and steel structures. It’s a place where you can really try out your skills. The park is always open and has free admission. It is lit up at night for those who enjoy skateboarding after sundown. There are occasionally staff on site during the summer months. Everyone is welcome at the skate park; professionals and beginners, young and old, boys and girls. Everyone skates together here. Safety rules: Visiting the skate park is at your own risk You should always wear a helmet and protective equipment Be mindful of inexperienced skaters and allow them to skate alongside more experienced skaters Always yield to the person in front of you Keep an adequate safe distance to other skaters and make sure your skateboard does not roll away and hurt someone Any spectators or resting skateboarders must stay away from the ramps and obstacles Keep things tidy and throw away all your rubbish in a bin Graffiti and other forms of painting is strictly prohibited Kickbikes are allowed in the skate park until 15:00 every day between weeks 25 - 32. From week 33 - 24, both skateboards and kickbikes are allowed in the park at the same time without a time limitation. Guardians are responsible for the safety of minors using the park

Over, under, jump, climb... There are no rules in a parkour park. You simply navigate through the course in your own way and according to your own ability. Take up the challenge At Vallarna Parkour Park, children and adults can practice their body control. Parkour is similar to obstacle courses like those used in military settings, but in parkour, there’s no need to go through the obstacles in any particular order. You simply move from a to b while trying not to be hindered by the obstacles in your way. There are no rules in parkour. The challenge entails finding your own way to get over, under or around something. The following rules apply in this park: Show respect for each other Practicing at the park is at your own risk For younger children, a guardian must be present

A scenic 2.2-kilometre jogging track. The track is lit in the mornings from 6:00-8:00 and at night from sunset to 22:00. You can also stop by the Vallarna Outdoor Gym for even more exercise.

Vallarna is a beautiful and living park with lots of activities to partake in. The 270,000 m² area is only a short walk away from the town centre across Tullbron. Falkenberg’s biggest park At the park, you can walk along the Ätran river and take in the beautiful nature. Magnificent rhododendrons begin to bloom here in the early summer. There are also deciduous and pine trees as well as several introduced exotic species such as red oak, goldenrain tree, copper beech and yellow buckeye. There is an abundance of wildlife in and around Vallarna. A lot of ducks and other water birds thrive here. You may also come across a variety a small wild animals, including squirrels and rabbits. Something for everyone The Ätran river has salmon, which attracts sport fishermen and spectators far and wide. Vallarna also has a mini-zoo with chickens, sheep, goats and pigs. You can spend a while at the playground, skate park, adventure park, outdoor gym or the parkour park. History Long ago, Vallarna was an almost desolate area without trees and only a smattering of bushes along the Ätran river. The area was used as grazing land for the Herting farm, and there was also a clay pit and brickworks here. In 1861, however, a doctor by the name of Ehrengranat laid down the walkway along the river that is now known as the Doctor’s Promenade. Eventually, the brickyard shut down (1877) and became a cemetery site. Spruce trees were planted throughout the area near the end of the 19th century, but struggled in the sandy soil and were eventually replaced with pine trees. The park begins to grow In 1916, the park architect Rudolf Abelin was commissioned by the association Småfåglarnas Vänner to establish a town park in the northern part of the area, which was still a grassland without trees. Walkways, arbours and open spaces were established. Birch and mountain pine were also planted in groves, creating a link to the pine forest. It was around this time that people were gaining an increasing appreciation for maintaining one’s health, and a lot of the focus in this regard was on fresh air, parks and sports. The town had bought the field by Vallarna from the Herting farm and chose to build a school here to ensure that the children would have access to nature and fresh air. In 1936, Falkenberg’s sports hall was built in the area too, and it has been extensively used for sports and exercise ever since.

Falkenberg is home to one of Sweden’s most beautiful and popular open-air theatres, located within a comfortable walking distance from the city centre. 20 years of laughter in Falkenberg The Vallarna Open-air theatre’s history begins with Stefan & Krister, a much-beloved duo that travelled around Sweden with their popular summer slapstick comedy act. Their management company, 2Entertain, wanted to create a more permanent stage for them where they could perform their comedy. One day in 1995, Bosse Andersson, the producer at 2Entertain, found a suitable spot in Falkenberg to build that stage. Falkenberg Municipality and other stakeholders supported the project, and by the next summer, the first summer farce was performed on a makeshift stage. The tradition continues The summer farce at Vallarna has since become well-known performance in Sweden, and even though Stefan and Krister are no longer involved in the performances, the summer farce has carried on with new scripts, directors and actors. Roughly 60,000 people come to watch the performance each year. The performances are often televised the following year, so if you have lived in Sweden a while, you may have caught a glimpse of this wonderful act even if you haven’t visited Falkenberg. You will pass right through the theatre area if you walk along Doktorpromenaden (The Doctor’s Promenade). Allsång (Sing-a-long) The theatre is also where the popular Allsång på Vallarna (Sing-a-long at Vallarna) is held. Every summer, you can drop by for a number of wonderful sing-a-long evenings with famous guests performers and local talents. Since it first began in 1996, the event has had over a quarter million visitors.

In Vallarnas Friluftsområde, there is a brand-new adventure golf course and fantastic ice cream parlour. Why not challenge each other to a fun round of mini golf on the 12-hole course? There is no shortage of activities to choose from at Vallarna. The latest addition is a wonderful 12-hole adventure golf course, with a nearby ice cream parlour. The golf course and café are open all summer.

Vallarna Outdoor Gym is a wood and steel gym where you can lift logs, do sit-ups and other callisthenics. You can find all the basic facilities you need here to train and stay in good shape. You can train here all year round for free.

A true paradise for all fun-loving children. If you are not interested in climbing, swings or slides, you can simply sit back and take in the sun and nature by one of the seating areas under the birch trees. Don’t forget to bring your picnic basket. The children’s favourite spot This lovely area for fun and games is located only a short walk from the city centre. The huge playground is a favourite among children, and everything is open and free every day, all year round. You can find the following at the playground: A five-metre high climbing net Swings and basket swings Pirate ship Slides Spinning seesaw Climbing frame And other small playground equipment A perfect place to spend the day It will be hard to drag your child away from the playground, so make sure you pack some snacks or bring a disposable grill. There are plenty of tables and benches around, and the lovely surroundings make it a wonderful spot for the whole family to spend the day. Parking and toilets can be found right next to the playground. NB: The playground is under renovation, closed until further notice.