Ales Stenar, or Ale’s Stones in English, is a megalithic monument in Ystad Municipality in the province of Skåne in southern Sweden. The monument is on the outskirts of the village of Kåseberga. These 59 large stones create the largest stone ship in Sweden with a length of 67 meters.
A Short History of Ales Stenar
The exact age of the stone formation is unknown, but it is believed to be around 1400 years old. This takes us back all the way to the Nordic Iron Age. Archeological investigations have taken place at several moments in history. The first known was done by Nils G. Bruelius in 1870 who drew and wrote a description of the stone formation and by so preserved how it looked at the time. A geological investigation was carried out in the 1980s and newer geological investigations took place in 2006 and 2012. Excavations near the stones have also been done in 2011. Sadly less educated restorations have been carried out over the years. Especially in 1916 when 40 of the stones that had fallen were raised once more, without full knowledge of their original position.
Things to Do and See
There is a walk uphill from Kåseberga to Ales Stenar. The walk itself is along a scenic route that will provide a view of the surrounding landscape. Here you can watch out across the Baltic Sea, either towards Germany far on the other side or maybe towards the island of Bornholm that might actually be visible.
Ales Stenar
The purpose of the 59 stones in the formation of a ship is debated. It is unknown if it is a burial site or a religious site of some kind. There are also theories that it was some kind of sun calendar. The stones are the main attraction in the area and one that offers both a historical insight as well as an amazing view.
How to Get to Ales Stenar
- Flights: The nearest airport is Malmö Airport (MMX) to the northwest, there is also Copenhagen Airport (CPH) nearby, right across the Öresund Strait in Denmark.
- Car: Ales Stenar is along countryside roads to the east of Ystad.
- Bus: Buses from Skånetrafiken connect Ales Stenar with the surrounding area.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 631 kilometers (6 h 50 min)
- Gothenburg – 344 kilometers (3 h 40 min)
- Malmö – 77 kilometers (1 h 5 min)
- Linköping – 437 kilometers (5 h)
- Kiruna – 1862 kilometers (19 h 20 min)
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