Gislaved – Industrial History, Parks and Trails along the Nissan

Gislaved combines tangible industrial history with walking trails, parks and recreational activities in the town. This character is particularly apparent at the Gislaved Industrial Museum: it is located in the former Remfabriken, Gislaved’s oldest factory building from 1893, by the waterfall on the Nissan. Exhibits include rubber, glass, celluloid, Bakelite, plastic and leather products, along with the associated machinery.

Culture and history

The Gislaved Industrial Museum is open to everyone and also serves as an InfoPoint for certain tourist information. The town’s industrial development extends far beyond the exhibition: in 20th-century Gislaved, the leather and rubber industries first became leading industrial sectors; later, plastic also grew in importance as a key material.

Another historical focal point is the heritage park in the northern part of Gislaved. It comprises around ten buildings and houses around 600 objects. Next to the park is a domarring, a prehistoric stone circle that is now interpreted as a burial site. The buildings include Orrastugan, originally an old service cottage belonging to Gislaved’s former inn, which was moved to the heritage park in 1961, as well as Väståkrastugan. This is a detached house from the 18th century with an entrance hall and ridge pole. Tingstensstugan was built at this location in 1845.

Contemporary art is also present in the townscape. The Stjärnfall roundabout artwork covers almost 3,800 square metres and consists of 125 six-metre-high columns made of brushed stainless steel. A bronze sculpture on Musiktorget is inspired by dance and music. Another bronze sculpture in Kyrkparken is Gislaved’s first public artwork.

Trails and nature

The Nissan Nature and Culture Trail is a walking trail in the Gislaved urban area where visitors can experience and learn about the local natural and cultural landscapes. The Nissan Culture Trail runs as a 3.6-kilometre circular route outside the Gislaved Industrial Museum. Various information boards explain the area’s industrial and cultural history.

Another trail idea is Solsystemet. The walking trail begins in the Dalen residential area of Gislaved and runs for a total of four kilometres to the last planet in Mossarp. The installation is designed to a scale of 1:1.5 billion and consists of stone installations. The different trail lengths provide a clear basis for comparing shorter and longer routes.

The Anderstorps Stormosse nature reserve is located near Gislaved, within walking and cycling distance of the edge of the town. A gravel cycling and walking trail of around 3.5 kilometres runs through the reserve. In the eastern area near Stenbrohult, there is also a birdwatching tower, as well as parking, an information board, picnic areas, a barbecue area and an outdoor toilet.

Parks in the townscape

Dalenparken is Gislaved’s largest park and is located by the Nissan. It has a gravel football pitch, a boules court and an exercise play structure. Kyrkparken in central Gislaved offers a fishpond, seating, shade-providing trees, as well as summer flowers, perennials and flowering cherry trees.

Torgparken is Gislaved’s central park, below Stortorget. It has seating and a water feature with a fountain pond. During concerts and other events, the park provides shade.

Leisure and everyday life

Gislebadet has a large 50-metre pool and a smaller teaching pool. Swimming lessons are offered from baby swimming to courses for children aged six and over. In addition, there are the water aerobics formats Aqua Power, Aqua Fitness and Aqua Deep.

Gisle Bowling has eight lanes in Glashuset. Filmcentrum offers opportunities for image and film editing, various courses, and the chance to try out cameras, equipment and technology with professional support. In southern Gislaved, alongside the Nissan on Kappeledsvägen, there is also a 2.5-kilometre illuminated running and training track.

In central Gislaved, there are several cosy cafés and restaurants for coffee, lunch and dinner.

Geographical setting

Today, Nissastigen intersects in Gislaved with National Road 26 between Jönköping and Halmstad and National Road 27 between Borås and Växjö.

To the higher-level travel overview: Jönköping.

Further destinations

More places within the same destination:

Mullsjö Municipality, Gnosjö.

Further destinations in Gislaved

More places for travel planning:

Hestra.