If you want to explore the cultural landscape and history of Västra Tunhem on foot, you can follow the Västra Tunhem Trail. The trail passes through a cultural landscape with older houses, archaeological remains, oak pastures and lime kilns. Other topics to consider when planning your trip include the protected Tunhems ekhagar, archaeological burial grounds and the church. This lets you choose different points of interest without turning the named places into a fixed route.

Cultural Landscape and Lime Quarrying

Tunhems ekhagar is a well-preserved cultural landscape at the foot of Hunneberg and part of the Natura 2000 network of protected areas. The limestone quarries of Västra Tunhem preserve traces of shale and limestone extraction, which took place for many centuries at the foot of Hunneberg. Industrial lime production at Hunneberg lasted from the late 18th century until the final lime firing in the 1950s. This presents the long history of extraction alongside the more specific timeframe for industrial lime production as two distinct ways of looking at the area’s past.

Burial Grounds and Building History

The Forstena burial grounds lie in wooded areas on a ridge and today comprise around 20 graves, mainly burial mounds and stone settings. A large monument to the military commander Lennart Torstensson, erected in 1903, stands on one of the largest burial mounds. At Rånnums ekdungar there are around 50 circular stone settings and five cup marks carved into stones. The archaeological features therefore differ: Forstena combines graves with a monument, while stone settings and cup marks are the focus at Rånnums ekdungar.

Church and Events

Västra Tunhem Church dates back to the 12th century; parts of the oldest cemetery have been in use since the 12th century. The Västra Tunhem cemetery walk uses twelve stations marked with QR codes at the church and cemetery. The church façade will be renovated from May through autumn 2026.

The Västra Tunhem local heritage association holds numerous events throughout the year, mainly at the Hembygdsgård. The association took over the former South School as its Hembygdsgård. As individual event dates may change, check the schedule for your visit before planning.

Practical Information and Accommodation

The car park at Västra Tunhem Church is a suitable starting point for the Västra Tunhem Trail; electric vehicle charging stations are also available at the church. The easiest way to reach Tunhems ekhagar is via the old Trollhättan–Vargön road. Cattle graze at the Tunhem burial grounds in summer. The burial grounds are on private land, and visitors should park in designated spaces.

Västra Tunhem rectory dates from the 1720s and still has many old outbuildings. It is privately owned. An older tourism listing mentions rentals for stays of one day or one week; check whether this option is currently available before making plans.

Discover more destinations: Vargön, Ekenäs, Frändefors, Vänersborg, Brålanda

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