Bonnstan

Church towns exist because the parishes in northern Sweden were enormous and attendance was compulsory, so people from far-off villages needed somewhere to stay overnight around the service. Bonnstan has 116 cottages in tight rows along narrow lanes beside Skelleftea's church, rebuilt after a fire in 1835 on the older plan, silvered timber with small windows and no running water or electricity by rule. They are privately owned, inherited within families, and used for church weekends and midsummer. You can walk the lanes but the cottages are homes. The church of 1800 next to it holds a medieval wooden Madonna of about 1200.

Highlights

• 116 timber cottages - in rows along narrow lanes.
• No water or electricity - kept that way by rule.
• Privately owned and inherited - used for church weekends.
• A medieval Madonna - in the church alongside.

When to go

June to August. An hour.

Things to know

The cottages are private homes - you walk the lanes only. There is no museum or interpretation centre. It is quickly seen. Skelleftea is a long way north.

Nearby

Sara Kulturhus is in the town centre; the Bothnian coast is east.

Key facts