Ljungskile is a locality on the coast of Bohuslän in western Sweden. The urban area has developed around two centers. On the one hand, the seaside resort Lyckorna and on the other, the train station. The population of around 4000 inhabitants tends to be proud of the local football team that has played two seasons in the top-tier league Allsvenskan.
A Short History of Ljungskile
This is a former Norwegian village that turned into a Swedish seaside resort. History really includes a lot of changes and development for all areas.
Bohuslän as a Border Region
The area around what is today Ljungskile had for centuries several farmsteads. Up until the Peace Treaty of Roskilde in 1658, the whole province of Bohuslän was a part of Norway. Being close to the border meant that the area was often attacked and plundered in the many wars between Denmark and Norway on one side and Sweden on the other. The worst known event took place in 1612 when 60 of about 100 farmsteads in the area were burned down.
Lyckorna Seaside Resort
A Scotsman named Robert MacFie established the seaside resort known as Lyckorna in 1877. The area soon grew with summer villas around the hot and cold baths. MacFie was quite creative when laying the foundation for the local spa. He visited the spa in Marstrand and asked for many of their services in one single day before going back home and teaching local women what to do. The seaside resort even got a royal visit in 1887 when King Oscar II arrived with his ship HMS Drott. The arrival of the railway in 1903 only increased the accessibility of Ljungskile and Lyckorna for possible visitors.
The Name Ljungskile
According to a few sources the name Ljungskile is quite new. It is supposed to have been SJ, the railway company, that assigned the name to the station once the railway opened. This area was earlier known as Ljung Parish, a not too uncommon name and a name that was already in use for a station not too far away in Västergötland. The station was named after the parish, with the addition of “kile” which translates to “bay” in English. So this is Ljung’s Bay.
Football with Ljungskile SK
Many Swedes know Ljungskile due to its football club, which is soccer for any American that wonders. The team Ljungskile SK was founded in 1926 and even though it might only have had a short period in the star gaze, it made a lasting impression for many. In 1990 the team played in Swedish Division 5, the 6th-tier league in Sweden at the time. The team had in 1997 climbed all the way up to Swedish Allsvenskan, the first-tier league of the country. This is a spectacular climb for any team so far down in the league system and the reason why football is still visible in and around Ljungskile.
Things to Do and See
Attractions in Ljungskile include the old seaside resort, the sea of Skagerak, football, and historical dwellings. The diversity is obvious when it comes to what to do and see in and around Ljungskile.
Lyckorna
Lyckorna is the seaside resort and where you can find both restaurants and swimming possibilities. A famous building is for example Villa Sjötorp dating back to 1901. Several of the other buildings connected with the resort have been torn down to make room for more modern housing.
Ljungskile Square
This is the center of Ljungskile and where you can find both shops as well as the annual Christmas tree.
Ljungskile SK and Skarsjövallen
Ljungskile SK is a football team that was founded in 1926 and is best known for its climb in the 1990s from Swedish Division 5 (tier 6) to Swedish Allsvenskan (tier 1). The team has played two seasons in the top league Allsvenskan, 1997 and 2008. They have been going up and down in the league systems since 1997 and after a short sojourn in Swedish division 1 (tier 3) they are back in the second-tier league Supperettan since 2020.
The team has its home at Skarsjövallen, an arena that has had many names over the years since its completion in 1984. It has previously been known as Starke Arvid Arena, H.A. Bygg Arena, Markbygg Arena, and Uddevalla arena. It has a capacity of 5.715 spectators, making it the 45th largest in Sweden. It could, however, still find space for the whole population of Ljungskile.
Bella Vista
Bella Vista is the home of the local heritage organization and includes their museum about the local history and its people. The building dates back to 1885.
Lyckorna Torp and Kvarn
Lyckorna has another building complex belonging to the local heritage organization. The complex houses a dwelling and a mill by the small river Bratteforsån. The green area is perfect for a short visit and a walk to enjoy the green trees and fields.
Ljung Church
Ljung Church is on top of a hill with a view out over the bay and the sea of Skagerak. The church was completed in 1902, replacing the old church that is still standing as the main church for the parish.
Ljung Old Church
The old church in Ljungskile might date back all the way to the 12th century. It was replaced by the new church in 1902 and was abandoned soon afterward. The ruin was repaired in 1919 and has since 2011 once more been a church.
Bratteforsån Nature Reserve
Bratteforsån Nature Reserve was established in 2004 and covers an area of around 42 hectares. The reserve follows the river Bratteforsån for about 3.5 kilometers. The river itself is about 8 kilometers long.
How to Get to Ljungskile
- Flights: There are domestic and international routes to and from Göteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT), which is 86 kilometers away.
- Car: Ljungskile is on Road E6 between Stenungsund and Uddevalla.
- Bus: Local and regional buses from Västtrafik connect Ljungskile with the surrounding region.
- Train: Västtågen has trains to and from Gothenburg, Strömsund, and Uddevalla.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 457 kilometers (5h 3min)
- Gothenburg – 65 kilometers (44min)
- Malmö – 338 kilometers (3h 15min)
- Linköping – 335 kilometers (3h 23min)
- Kiruna – 1554 kilometers (17h 45min)
Find out more about other destinations in Sweden by visiting our page Exploring Sweden
