Points of Interest

There is plenty of solitude and wilderness in Saint Anna, but the area also has a rich history of fishermen, farmers and miners living their whole lives among the islands.  It is almost like going back in time visiting or paddling past all the old buildings, navigation marks and historical settings that are
dotted all over Saint Anna

Map of the Area

Harstena

Harstena Village is a must on your journey! It is an absolute idyll located in the middle part of the Saint Anna Archipelago. The village really is as picturesque as they come and you get such a piece of history strolling around the island. You can visit the old school/museum and seal processing factory, check out the water lilies and go to the northern side for a view of the open sea.  There is a great restaurant right on the water that serves typical archipelago cuisine and nice cold Swedish Lagers. You will also find a little bakery with delicious cinnamon swirls and a fish-smoking plant where a local fisherman smokes the catch of the day.

Harstena has been inhabited since 1543 and the older houses on the island date back to the 18th century. Harstena is known for its well preserved archipelago setting and also for the trade that was conducted in the early days, mainly fishing and seal hunting. The establishments on Harstena are only open during peak season (late June - mid August), but the island is definitely worth checking out anyway if you arrive earlier or later.


Missjö Archipelago & Kupa Klint Lookout

This Missjö archipelago is  located in the outskirts of Saint Anna and is a long band of hundreds of little islands and skerries. The area is the most finely-chiselled archipelago that exists in Sweden. There are many colonies of birds out here and you really get to experience the beauty of the outer archipelago when paddling through this maze of islands.

Kupa Klint is the most well known navigation mark in Saint Anna. It is marked by a cairn of rocks up on a hill in the southern part of the Missjö archipelago. When you climb up to this great lookout point you will get a view that you’ll never forget as you see the hundreds of islands and skerries of the Missjö archipelago from above.


Håskö Wood-fired Sauna & Smoked Fish

Håskö is one of the region’s last untouched archipelago homesteads. The locals still live off fishing, livestock and forestry. They rent out a few cabins for guests and have a great setup with a sauna, kiosk and fish-smoking plant.



For a very small fee you can use the wood-fired sauna located right on the sea. You do your own firing and when it’s time to cool down there’s a great jetty to swim from. The guys at Håskö have a small scale fishing operation and they catch perch, salmon, cod, whitefish, flounders and Baltic Herring. Håskö is renowned for their fresh perch and smoked and cured salmon, especially whiskey lax, and you can buy it all in the kiosk. Håskö is open all season.


Häradsskär Lighthouse

© Foto: www.kajak.nu

Häradsskär is located far out in the outer archipelago and is famous for its lighthouse. The only sounds you can hear out here are bird calls and the rhythmic crashing of the sea against the smooth rocks. It is amazing to peer out towards the open sea and the horizon to the east. You are as far out as you’re going to get and it’s beautiful!

Häradsskär has been inhabited since the 1650s. People on the island lived off fishing as well as piloting other ships through the difficult waters. There has been some form of navigation mark on Häradsskär since the 1600s. The present lighthouse was built in 1863 and is the second oldest iron lighthouse in Sweden. There is a small sheltered harbour around which most houses on the island are situated. Häradsskär do not have any permanent residents anymore and you can wander around and check out the old lighthouse-keepers house and other buildings.


Fångö Copper Mine

Fångö is one of the largest islands in the area and was during the 1800s a prominent site for mining copper.  The copper mines at Fångö were active for around 50 years (1820-1876). The ore was shipped or dragged across the ice to the mainland where the copper works were located. At its peak in the mid 1800s, 200 persons lived on Fångö. There are many remains from the copper mining era on the island, for example deep mining shafts, house foundations and massive piles of waste rock.


Gubbön

Opposite the Fångö copper mine is Gubbön. With its 25 metres above sea level the island is a great viewing spot.



Aspöja

Aspöja is another idyllic village with cultral significance to Saint Anna. 43 people live here year-round and hardly any of the houses have been sold to summer guests. On the east side there is a jetty where you can find a small café and buy smoked fish. On the northern tip of Aspöja is the Alnholm nature reserve. Here you can observe some unusual geological formations.


The Archipelago Museum

The Archipelago Museum is located on the mainland at Tyrislöt. The museum chronicles the life of archipelago dwellers in the past and present. The main theme is fishing and hunting and you get to see many types of boats as well as fishing & bird catching methods. There are also simple farming tools, a larder and kitchen on display. A boat-house has been built inside the museum and many photoes show everyday life in the archipelago.