Sweden

Gammelstad (translated Old Town) is the former mainly religious center of the city of Luleå in northern Sweden. There are around 400 huts (kyrkstugor) around the impressive stone church, the construction of which began in the 13th century. When church services were held, people came from near and far, so that they could spend the night in these accommodations.

On our 2022 tour of Sweden, we stopped for two nights at Norrfly Herrgård, a villa by Bollnäs Golf Club, to visit Ålsjön nature reserve, among other things. Here we wanted to photograph horned grebes and were surprised to get a magnificent couple in front of the lens after only a few meters on the paths along the lakes. Ålsjön also has observation towers from which you can get a good view of the lakes and see many birds. To get to the top floor of the towers you must not be overweight, the stairwell is very narrow.

Hamgården Nature Resort is located right by Lake Unden near Gårdsjö (Örebro). The Swedish Tiveden National Park is only 10 kilometers away from here and we planned hikes in this forest landscape with a wilderness character. Since the park is not overcrowded, with a bit of luck you can photograph animals such as grouse during courtship. However, we had to be content with pochards and tufted ducks.