Tjorn
Just north of Gothenburg on the west coast, Sweden‘s sixth largest island covers an area of 167 sq km and is the gateway to the beautiful islands of the Bohuslan Archipelago. The coastline is extraordinary complex and varied – rocky shores, sandy stretches of beach, winding inlets and sheltered bays that are natural harbors for yachts and small boats. The island has a stark beauty and liberating space. At its highest point, 116 m above sea level, you feel like on the top of the world, gazing across ancient meadows full of wild flowers, with breathtaking view to open skies and the sea. Photo by: npr001
There are traces of human habitation on Tjorn from the Stone Age onwards and you can see Bronze Age pictures carved into the rocks and the remains of Iron Age burial cairns. For many hundreds of years islander have depended on the fishing and boat building industries for their livelihoods. There are pretty little villages and hamlets of red and white painted houses dotted around the coast. In recent years the island has also become famous for an artist’s colony. There are also private galleries and exhibitions all over the island. Photo by: Richard Beer
Although Tjorn is a popular resort among the Swedes, its economy is not reliant on tourists; it is mercifully free of the rampant commercialism that is often found at holiday destinations. Photo by: iapia
When to go: Mid-May to early September. Population: 15,022. How to get there: Fly ti Gothenburg. Tjorn is only 50 km away and since 1960, has has a bridge connection to the mainland. You should know: Tjorn is a great place for cycling, walking boating and nature holidays and an ideal base from which to explore the beautiful islands of Bohuslan Archipelago. Photo by: Tokyo Tanenhaus
Highlights: Rorestrands beach – watch the sunset over the water. Sandholmen – bathing island off the pretty fishing villages of Skarhamn reached by boat. Mjorn – a nearby island to the northwest with wild landscape and shell banks. Photo by: WorldIslandInfo.com
Photo by: StephaneR
