Höjentorp - Drottningkullen
Skara
Höjentorp-Drottningkullen is the largest of the six nature reserves in the Valle area, where you can hike for miles through dense deciduous forests and flowering pastures. Past orchid-rich limestone marshes, dark forest lakes, and through alder swamp forests where golden saxifrage shines in the spring.
Drottningkullen is said to have gotten its name in 1722 when Queen Ulrika Eleonora stood here and watched Höjentorp Castle burn down. Today, you can no longer see Höjentorp from here, as the hill is deeply nestled in the embrace of elm and hazel trees. When the leaves have fallen, however, you can see Varnhem Abbey Church. Drottningkullen itself is located on the west side of the road, very close to the reserve's largest parking lot (apart from the one at Höjentorp). The hill may have lost its former view, but there are still plenty of rolling green hills that would befit a queen.
Large parts of the reserve could be described as overgrown and scrubby, but the hilly landscape takes on a special fairy-tale dimension when nestled in the rainforest-like elm forest. The dead ice pits become dark hazel caves where sunbeams dance on the ground. In spring, many small valleys smell of wild garlic and white anemones. The Höjentorp-Drottningkullen nature reserve is home to more than 1,000 large deciduous trees (with a diameter of more than 70 cm). These are mainly oak and elm trees. Eggby takes its name from the Danish word egg, which means oak.
Höjentorp Castle Ruins
If the gentle hills of Valle have a heart, it is probably Höjentorp Castle Ruins. Many royalty have enjoyed the lush landscape and sparkling lakes here.
Höjentorp Castle was a royal residence whose spires and towers were reflected in Lake Trädgårdssjön. However, it was built of wood and burned down in 1722.
When Linnaeus visited the ruins 25 years after the fire, he noted that this castle “stood so magnificently that there was hardly anything else like it in the country.” It may seem like a strange choice to build such a magnificent castle here, but in the Middle Ages, Valle härad was centrally located in Västergötland, close to Varnhem Abbey and Skara. Gustav Vasa, Johan III, Karl IX, and Karl XI, among others, often stayed at Höjentorp.
Today, only the stone steps up to the castle courtyard and a cellar remain, which are said to be remnants of the medieval castle that was burned down by the Danes in 1566. The area around the ruins still resembles a castle park, with elegant plants such as martagon lilies, columbines, and wild garlic.
Since greenery promotes health, it must be very healthy to walk around here. The hills surround the hiker with greenery in several layers, like green caves of wild garlic, woodruff, and large lime trees. But if you continue east towards Ormsjön, the lush vegetation gives way to coniferous forest with myrtle and juniper. The Höjentorp-Drottningkullarna nature reserve is Valle's largest, and here you can continue far beyond the well-trodden paths around the castle ruins.