Grästorp is a locality in the region of Västergötland. It is one of several localities in Sweden that developed around the stations after the construction of the railway in the second half of the 19th century. It might be the case that many passers-by only remember the sight of the fighter jet Viggen.
A Short History of Grästorp
Grästorp was the place for the local governing assembly, or thing, for the hundreds of Åse and Viste during the 19th century. A hundred was a geographic division commonly used in Sweden in the past. It was with the establishment of the railway in 1867 that Grästorp started to develop into a population centre. The locality grew up around the railway station and has today a population of around 3000 inhabitants.
Things to Do and See
Grästorp might not be big, but there is still much to see in and around the small locality. Excursions to (or from) nearby towns such as Lidköping, Trollhättan, Vara, and Vänersborg are easy possibilities. There are also several sights in the nearby nature for anyone looking for a hike.
Grästorp Museum
The local museum is housed in an old school building and it showcases the local history. The interior includes several reconstructed historical settings.
Rest area Viggen
Right outside of Grästorp, along road 44, there is a small rest area. At this rest area, there is a statue of the Swedish fighter jet Viggen. Saab 37 Viggen was in use from 1971 to 2007 and the 329 jets built were mainly used by the Swedish Air Force. Skaraborg Air Wing is located in nearby Såtenäs.
Grästorp Ghost House
The local ghost house, or spökhus, welcomes you with a warning: you are welcome if you dare. It offers group visits and arranges activities. We are unable to comment on if it is scary or not, please let us know in case you visit.
How to get to Grästorp
- Flights: The closest larger airport is Göteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) 99 kilometres away, with both domestic and international flights.
- Car: Road 44 connects Grästorp with Lidköping and Trollhättan and Road 47 vid Vara and the E20.
- Train: Västtågen has train connections to Borås, Herrljunga, Uddevalla and Varberg.
- Bus: Regional and local buses connect Grästorp with the surrounding region.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 396 kilometers (4h 34min)
- Gothenburg – 101 kilometers (1h 21min)
- Malmö – 369 kilometers (4h 1min)
- Linköping – 255 kilometers (2h 58min)
- Kiruna – 1493 kilometers (17h 40min)
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