Axevalla hed

Between Lake Husgärdessjön and Axvall

Axevalla hed is an open heathland landscape stretching between Lake Husgärdessjön at Valle Camping and the village of Axvall. Humans have left their mark here ever since the inland ice retreated, and the area was once home to numerous Stone Age burial sites. On the outskirts of Axevalla hed once stood Axevalla hus, a royal castle that held a significant place in Swedish history.

Today, few traces of this distant past remain; Axevalla hus was burned down in the 15th century and its stones were repurposed for church construction. The Stone Age graves also eventually vanished during the 19th century when the heath became a training ground for the Skaraborg Regiment.

You can learn more about the military history of Axevalla hed at the Garrison Museum (Garnisonsmuseet), located adjacent to the heathland.

A Place for Exploration

Today, Axevalla hed is primarily a popular area for walking and recreation. Several paths criss-cross the relatively flat terrain—many of which are cow paths created by the livestock that graze here every summer. These trails and the open landscape make it easy to plan a walk across and around the heath. In the corner of the heath where Hedvägen meets Route 49, you can still discern the trenches used when the area served as a training ground for the Skaraborg Regiment.