Stora Levene is a locality in Västergötland with a population of around 760 inhabitants. It includes the old church village of Levene and, according to hearsay, it has a royal past. Any visitor today would, however, most likely make sure to enjoy the pristine nature.
A Short History of Stora Levene
Levene was first mentioned in the 13th century when it appeared in the text Västgötalagen, the Westrogothic law. According to local hearsay some of the kings mentioned in the Westrogothic law resided in Levene. Among the kings is Håkan Röde, who is believed to have lived during the 11th century. Levene was during the 13th century known as Livina and Liwine.
Things to Do and See
Neighbouring Sparlösa is not the only village with a unique kind of rune stone in the area. Stora Levene has maybe not one of the most famous rune stones in Sweden, but it is the tallest. Except for the stone visitors can also enjoy the church. Additionally, there is plenty of nature to explore in the surrounding area.
Levene Church
Some believe that King Håkan Röde built the church in Levene in the 11th century. Other sources point to a more likely construction in the 13th century. In any case, it is an interesting stop for visitors. Extensive additions to the original building were made in the 17th century. It is today one of the most historical buildings in the area.
Rune Stone Levenestenen
The rune stone Levenestenen, or the Levene Stone, was discovered in the 1920’s during a renovation of the church. It was at the time split in two parts and walled in the church wall. The two stone halves are today re-joined and on display next to the church. It is the tallest rune stone in Sweden with a height of 4.6 meters.
Levene äng
Levene äng is a nature reserve slightly outside of Stora Levene and it covers an area of 16 hectares. It includes an area that once was a small village. The village was abandoned to make way for a hay meadow. The fields also house a large grave field from the Iron Age that consists of around 100 graves.
How to Get to Stora Levene
- Flights: The closest larger airport is Göteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) 98 kilometres away, with both domestic and international flights.
- Car: Stora Levene is on road 47 between Grästorp and Vara.
- Train: Västtågen has train connections to Göteborg, Herrljunga, Lidköping, Mariestad and Örebro.
- Bus: Regional and local buses connect Stora Levene with the surrounding region.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 386 kilometers (4h 26min)
- Gothenburg – 106 kilometers (1h 28min)
- Malmö – 374 kilometers (4h 7min)
- Linköping – 242 kilometers (2h 49min)
- Kiruna – 1483 kilometers (17h 32min)
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