The Tanum rock carvings are an outstanding example of Bronze Age art. There are an astonishing 1,500 known rock carving sites in western Sweden’s Bohuslän region, including the ones in Tanum, where inhabitants from the Bronze Age have carved images into the smooth rocks of the landscape.
Sweden: Grimeton Radio Station
Grimeton Radio Station is an early longwave transatlantic wireless telegraphy station built in 1922–1924, that has been preserved as a historical site. In 2004, Grimeton Radio Station was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List of unique natural and cultural heritage sites.
Grimeton Radio Station is an early longwave transatlantic wireless telegraphy station built in 1922–1924, that has been preserved as a historical site. In 2004, Grimeton Radio Station was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List of unique natural and cultural heritage sites worthy of preservation for the future. That’s partly because the station at Grimeton is the only one of its kind left that shows what wireless technology looked like in its early years of development, and also what it has made possible for humans in terms of technology.
We arrived about an hour before closing time, so things were a little quiet, but I suspect it doesn’t get overly crowded here. Most UNESCO World Heritage Sites are temples, castles, or places of outstanding natural beauty, but a few like Grimeton recognise technological achievements or scientific advancements that have had a major impact on the way we live. A year or so before we’d visited the astronomical telescopes at Jodrell Bank in the UK which was a similarly recognised UNESCO site.
Finding a place in the car park was no problem. Being in the middle of nowhere means there is plenty of space around. As we wandered towards the café-come-ticket office we noticed a young lady setting up for a fitness class she was about to run outside the radio station’s buildings. A little odd! Anyway, we paid for our tickets and went off to explore.
One of the more impressive things about Grimeton, at least for me, is the huge antenna arrays that live in the field surrounding the radio station. One of the things about longwave radio is that you need very large antennas – and these were massive.
The first building we went into was the museum, which had displays and multimedia exhibits that told the history of transatlantic radio communication, the development of Morse code and the development and operation of the radio station at Grimeton. One fascinating fact was that from the mid-1920s after Grimeton became operational someone could go into a telegraph office anywhere in Sweden and send a telegram that would be received in the United States within 20 minutes. Amazing!
The main building on the campus is Transmitter Hall. Going in here took me back to times in my past when I visited dusty old basements in Universities or National Laboratories. It was packed full of radio transmitters. These are not tiny radio sets but huge cabinets full of high-voltage electronics that would have taken massive amounts of power to operate. Getting an electric shock in here would have been a deadly affair. The Transmitter Hall houses the world’s only Alexanderson transmitter from the 1920s. This transmitter set consists of three parts, the driving motor, a gear drive and the high-frequency generator, commonly called the alternator. They are assembled on a solid base of steel. The weight of the complete transmitter set is about 50 tons. Operating and keeping this equipment going would have required some talented engineers.
Although a bit geeky I enjoyed going around the Transmitter Hall. Karen found it interesting too. It was time to say goodbye to Grimeton and make our way up to Gothenburg.
Planning your visit to Grimeton Radio Station
World Heritage Grimeton’s six antenna towers are clearly visible as you approach the goal.
From the E6: Turn off at exit 53 from the south or 54 from the north. From the exits there are signs for “Radiostationen Grimeton”, follow the signs.
From Varberg or Värnamo (Ullared): Follow road 153 towards Värnamo alt. Varberg. When you approach the destination, there are brown signs for “Radiostationen Grimeton”, follow the signs.
The best time to visit Sweden
Sweden, positioned in Northern Europe, reaches from the Baltic Sea in the southeast up to the Arctic Circle in the north. Its geography ranges from coastal plains to highlands and mountainous areas, all contributing to its distinct weather patterns that significantly differ throughout the year. The Köppen climate classification indicates that the majority of Sweden experiences a temperate climate. This indicates varying weather conditions that cycle with the changing seasons.
The south coastal areas, classified as humid continental or oceanic using the -3°C isotherm, benefit from milder winters and relatively cooler summers in contrast to other regions of the country. Conversely, central Sweden falls under a humid continental climate, leading to warm summers and cold winters. The further north one travels, a subarctic climate is encountered, where long, icy winters and brief, cool to mild summers are the norm. These varying climatic conditions bring a unique diversity to the nation’s weather, making Sweden a land of climatic contrasts.
The best time to visit Sweden
The optimal time to explore Sweden greatly depends on the individual’s interests. The months between June and August present the most clement weather, where average temperatures typically hover from 15°C to 25°C. It is a particularly attractive time for outdoor enthusiasts who may wish to indulge in hiking, camping, or simply absorbing the picturesque Swedish landscapes. Additionally, this period also ushers in the renowned Midnight Sun phenomenon in the northern areas of the country.
The worst time to visit Sweden
The period least recommended for visiting Sweden, particularly for outdoor activities, is the winter season which spans from December to February. The nation undergoes extreme cold during this time, with temperatures frequently dropping below -20°C in the north. The days are short, particularly pronounced in the northern areas, where the Polar Night phenomenon results in a 24-hour darkness.
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