Söderåsens National Park and more

Söderåsens National Park

A welcoming entrance at Söderåsens National Park.

On a busy week, Monday proved the only chance for a PhotoHike where time is dedicated to photographing. Söderåsens National Park is a short drive from Östra Göinge along route 21 (west) passing Hässleholm and Perstorp. The main entrance is south of Ljungbyhed and it is possible to drive all the way up to Kopparhatten for a view over one of the faults on the hills dating 70-80 million years back. The National Park itself is fresh since 2001 and is characterized by high cliffs and their faults, beech forests, clear streams and large areas of stones on the slopes created by frozen water in between the ice ages. A fellow photographer kindly guided me down to the bottom of one of the faults that was easily accessible past the pond. The light conditions and the shadows in this fissure valley offered excellent opportunities to practice camera skills with some results shown below. The map of Skåne is from Wikipedia, courtesy Erik Frohne, and the detailed map over the area owe courtesy to Länsstyrelsen.

Location of Söderåsen.

Söderåsen National Park

Elements of Söderåsen National Park with its visitor center.

Tourism in this part of the country started in the 19th century when a railway was built. The views from Kopparhatten have been popular since then. Today the visitor center hosts a restaurant, have toilet facilities and offer also guided tours. The park offer barbecue spots and resting cottages and is open all year. 

Colorful flora at the bottom of the valleys that, due to grazing, was much sparser in the 19th century.

Bosjökloster

The plan was also to get a glimpse of the southern entrance to Nackarpsdalen but once I arrived there the rain set in and I decided to return home via Bosjökloster (Bosjö Abbey) situated by lake Ringsjön on route 23 near Höör. This was a good decision. Not only did the sun appear again, but also, this Abbey / Castle has a beautiful location and offer a variety of services. From being a nunnery in the 11th century and belonging both to the Danish crown and Swedish State that in the 18th century returned Bosjö Abbey into private hands. Today the Abbey / Castle organize weddings, festivities and congresses, musical and other events for families and groups. Presently it hosts an interesting exhibition by Maude Lewenhapt de Jeu and Julia Beck. Interested in jujutsu? A seminar will be organized in July and classical concerts in August. 

Bosjö Abbey, under OpenSkies, with its gardens seen from the lakeside.

The Abbey before reconstructions in the 19th  century (Wikimedia Commons).

The area includes a Rose garden, coffee shop and restaurant, stables, a shop, children's corner, Herbal garden, a large Park with animal enclosures, the Abbey and Castle with Court yard and terraces. A thousand-year-old oak tree draws ones attraction, too. Visit www.bosjokloster.se

Details of the privately owned Bosjö Abbey and Castle.

This was a very short visit to Bosjökloster with a promise to revert with more time and Mrs. T. The final picture is from the Herbal garden with a narrow view towards the Castle Park.

Bosjö Abbey Herbal gardens next to the Castle park area.

Friday is the Independence Day with news from Hovdala. Stay tuned for an eventful report!

 :-)