Forshem, Västergötland – Exploring Sweden

Forshem is a small village with a population of around 80 inhabitants. It is close to both lake Vänern and the table mountain Kinnekulle.

Forshem is one of the locations mentioned in Jan Guillou’s trilogy The Knight Templar about the fictional Arn Magnusson. In the books, it was Arn who built the church in Forshem and the small village is a stop for anyone following in the steps of Arn.

A Short History of Forshem

The church in Forshem was once the church for the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian order originating in Jerusalem. The church dates back to the 12th century and has been at the center of development in the village.

The railway reached Forshem at the end of the 19th century and gave the small village a faster connection with the rest of the region.

Things to Do and See

Nature is not far away for any visitor. It is possible to enjoy it either along the shores of Lake Vänern or at the table mountain Kinnekulle. For visitors wanting to see the local sights, most stops center around the medieval church.

Forshem Church

This is where you find the only known church of the Holy Sepulchre in Scandinavia. It is a burial church with decorations that includes the Maltese cross, which according to some suggests that the church has had connections with the crusaders.

Forshems Stenmuseum

In a small building close to the church you will find the small stone museum. This small museum houses several gravestones and stone art dating back as far as the 11th century and covering eight centuries.

Forshems Gästgivaregård

Locals do claim that this is the oldest inn in Sweden and it dates back to the 13th century. It was for a long time a stop for travelers to the western part of Sweden.

How to get to Forshem

• Flights: The closest larger airport is Göteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) 151 kilometers away, with both domestic and international flights.
• Car: Forshem is located along country roads outside of Götene.
• Train: Västtågen has trains to Hallsberg, Herrljunga and Mariestad.
• Bus: Local buses connect Forshem with the surrounding region.

The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:

• Stockholm – 335 kilometers (3h 49min)
• Gothenburg – 158 kilometers (2h 3min)
• Malmö – 427 kilometers (4h 37min)
• Linköping – 196 kilometers (2h 32min)
• Kiruna – 1433 kilometers (16h 33min)

Explore More of Västergötland and Sweden