There are many reasons to live here: nature, history, culture and opportunity.
Social activities, nice people and the lack of stress also contribute.
In the middle of Lake Siljan in the heart of Dalarna.
Quite central actually. Not that far by bike, motorbike, car, camper or train from large parts of Sweden and Norway.
When you live on an island, you talk in all directions.
The butter is “in the fridge.” And they talk about an incomprehensible goal of their own – “Soldmål.”
Here you can experience four seasons up close and it is high season both in summer and winter. The Dala culture with Midsummer celebrations and hillocks and masas in colorful folk costumes is a tradition. Around the timber knot you can hear music with both older and younger sounds. "Visa från Utanmyra" originates from here and Sweden's first fiddler's meeting was arranged by Anders Zorn in Gesunda in 1906. Today, more modern tones can be heard on Radio Siljan and on You Tube with Eclipse, Sold's Finest and Winona Oak.
And Santa himself lives in Fairytale Land on Gesundaberget.
Let's dig a little deeper into what we mean by Nature, Culture, History and Opportunity.
Nature
We know that the large meteorite impact 377 million years ago created the Siljansringen, which makes Sollerön and the surrounding area interesting from a geological point of view. The Klikten area on the northern part of the island and Gesundaberget are so-called geosites worth visiting for their natural formations.
We enjoy the open landscape and we catch our breath as we gaze at the view from the mountain.
Nature makes the area attractive all year round. The hallmarks are the blue mountains in the distance and Lake Siljan, which gives the feeling of an inland sea and also an archipelago. The vegetation flourishes. Sollerön is often called the “Garden of Dalarna” and one of Sweden’s longest apple tree avenues (3 km) blooms here in early summer.
On the mainland, the eagle and the osprey soar over the bear's realm. The barn owl hoots and the moose strides in the deep forests. The magical call of the great otter echoes in the forest stars. We throw ourselves down Gesundaberget either as a paraglider, cyclist or skier (when it is open). Or we hike up and enjoy a coffee and the fantastic view over the Siljan region. The great forest forms a wilderness kingdom where we can hike along the Siljan Trail and wander on the old paths. We can climb mountains and fish in more than 60 lakes and ponds. In late summer and autumn we pick plenty of mushrooms and berries. We feel the peace and breathe in the fresh air, which makes both body and soul feel good.
If we prefer cross-country skiing, there are well-groomed trails both on the island and the mainland.
We go kick skiing in the winter and snowmobiling is becoming more common. In the winter of 2021, Siljan offered fantastic skating ice so we could skate all the way to Rättvik and Tällberg.
History and Culture
The Vikings chose Sollerön as a place to settle over 1,000 years ago. The good conditions for hunting and fishing and a favorable climate were the reasons. Remains from the Viking Age remain and there is still much to discover.
In Bengtsarvet is Dalarna's largest Viking burial ground, where new projects are being initiated to explore the contents of the burial mounds. Is there a harg hiding in a stone cairn? We will soon have the answer.
The iron ore, which the Vikings on Sollerön produced in blast furnaces, was used in trade with Birka, Gamla Uppsala and other places where iron for tools and weapons was not available. The valuable iron was found on Sollerön.
If we travel forward to the time of the old farming community, there was not enough pasture for the animals on Sollerön. At that time, people traveled with the cattle in large boats across Siljan and created huts on the mainland. The boatbuilding craft still exists today. All church boats on Siljan were built on Sollerön.
On the pastures, cows and sheep grazed in the forest all summer. Mills, sawmills, blast furnaces and eventually hydroelectric power plants were built in the rivers. There was also mining in the mountains. Today, the pastures are an idyll that provides peace and quiet and you can feel the wings of history. In one of the pastures – Södra Flenarna – time has stood still. That pasture is a cultural heritage that is classified as of national interest.
Today, local traditions are carried forward with Midsummer celebrations and maypole raising in almost every village.
The opportunity
Sollerön has a long history as the "Cycling Island" with the legendary Solleröloppet from 1934.
The race has developed into the popular exercise race "Siljan Runt" with thousands of participants. Many cyclists have become so fond of the area that they have settled here. Perhaps because of love or perhaps because of the opportunity to live a sustainable life in harmony with nature.
Urbanization has reversed. Working from home has become increasingly common. The big city is no longer attractive. There are other things that attract. And we have plenty of those things.
Today, many people do their work from cottages in Sollerön, Gesunda and Ryssa. The fiber network works. The local services as well. We have a school (grades 0-6), two preschools, a well-stocked grocery store, a gas station and knowledgeable professionals and craftsmen. Mora with municipal and regional services and job opportunities is only 15 minutes away. The community is very active with over 60 clubs. The sports club has its own newly renovated sports park and a wide range of youth activities including rowing and football. The cultural heritage is managed with music and choirs.
We know that it is attractive to live here. When a property is for sale, it sells almost immediately.
When the workday is over, it's close to a relaxing dog walk, a jog, bike ride, fishing trip, or a few kilometers on the ski trail. And then you can take it easy, light a fire, and eventually get a good night's sleep.
What other parish in Dalarna, indeed in Sweden, has nature, culture, history and opportunity all gathered in one place!
Lasse in Vibergsgården
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