Munch Meadows
Kinnekulle

Name and Historical Background

The name Munch Meadows, Munkängarna in swedish is likely originates from the period up to the 15th century when Råbäck belonged to Vadstena Abbey. Today, the area is no longer meadows but rather a grove of noble deciduous trees.

A large elevated ledge in the limestone cliff nearby, known as "the pulpit", offers a wonderful view over a rolling green sea of deciduous trees such as ash, elm, beech, oak, linden, and rowan. Both of these sites were formed by the continuous action of Yoldia Sea waves approximately 10,000 years ago. Now, the former seashore at Mörkeklev lies 119 meters above sea level.

In 1923, part of the limestone cliff was protected, and in 1972, the entire Munch Meadows was designated as a nature reserve. The groundwater supply to the meadow has changed, which over time will likely make it drier, altering the vegetation. Munkängarna's flora is very rich due to its base of fertile alum shale. Even during the brightest summer nights, it becomes completely dark under the large trees in Munkängarna, making it nearly impossible to distinguish anything.

The site is well-visited by tourists as well as locals, and it's hard to find a more scenic area. The advantage is that Munch Meadows has its charm not only in summer but also in spring and especially in autumn when all the colors of the rainbow seem to appear in the withering leaves. It's a paradise for nature lovers and photographers.

There is also a legend associated with Munkängarna, "the tale of the Black Madam", who is said to wander here during dark summer nights. How the legend originated is unclear, but it likely has some connection to Råbäck estate, as it's common for castles to have ghosts.

A tourist hotel was established here from 1880 to 1960, serving as a very popular excursion destination. There was also a well visited restaurant at the hotel. However, due to deterioration, it was demolished in 1982. It's unfortunate that restoration wasn't possible, as it would have been beneficial for the local tourism industry.

The park has numerous hiking trails, allowing for long excursions. The Kinnekulle path passes through the area. Emilie Högqvists pavilion is located here. She was a singer who died too early from tuberculosis in Turin. The pavilion was moved here from Stockholm, where she spent a long time and socialized with nobility and royalty. 

Nature Reserve

The area has been a nature reserve since the 1970s. The purpose is to preserve a deciduous forest area of grove character, open meadow areas, and an untouched cliff edge. Management today is limited to mowing the open glades annually. Munkängarna is situated on the alum shale layer. The eastern part of the reserve consists of the red stone cliff, a prominent limestone escarpment that extends around the entire mountain. After the last ice age, about 10,000 years ago, the sea reached up to the limestone layer, and the waves carved out stack-like formations in the cliff. This is how Mörkeklev's cave was formed.

Flora and Fauna

The Munch Meadows can be characterized as a grove with noble decidous trees. Almost all swedish decidoud trees are represented here, but elm and ash dominates. In spring, yellow anemones, corydalis, and wood violets bloom. In early summer, the garlic-scented wild garlic forms a dense carpets, and in late summer, wood spurge dominates. The vegetation is not species rich but very lush. In the glades, there are meadow plants. The area has a very interesting fungus flora. The dead trees in the area provide habitats for many mosses, fungi, lichens, and insects that are now threatened. The noble deciduous forest is a species rich environment for both birds and insects.

Please note that picking wild garlic in the Munch meadows is not allowed. 

Parking

Park only in designated parking areas, not on the road. If the parkinglot at the Munch Meadows is full, we refer you to Hellekis Manor, which has a lage parking area. There is also parking available from The Grand Quarry, from where you can enjoy a beautiful walk to Munch Meadows of about 700 meters.

Directions from The Grand Quarry to The Munch Meadows:

From the parkingspace, walk back a short distance along the road, then take a left turn onto the gravel road that goes uphill. At the top, turn right and walk straight into the forest along side the Kinnekulle trail. After a short distance, you will reach a stone staircase that leads directly down to The Munch Meadows.

Getting There by Public Transport

With Västtågen, you can reach this destination by getting off at Råbäck station. Search in Västtrafik's travel planner either on the web or in the Västtrafik To Go app.

For questions or more information, visit Västtrafik