101 gems to explore on Hisingen with the new book

Forests, industries, Jack the Ripper, medieval churches, disused shipyards, history, farmers and personal gems. You can learn more about this and much more in the new book "101 Hits on Hisingen".

– Everything is available at Hisingen, says author Claes Olsson, who released the book together with nature photographer Mikael Svensson.

We meet at the gravel parking lot of the small forest area Rya skog – sandwiched between Hisingsleden, the Göta River, the Rya power plant and refineries, it lies there like a last green bastion. The forest is one of 101 sites that Claes Olsson and Mikael Svensson tell about with text and pictures in their newly released book.

– It feels like an obvious excursion destination here that people know about, says Säve resident Claes during the interview, which is conducted during a sunny spring walk on the trestles through the forest area bathed in white and yellow sedges.

But how did it all really start? Claes, who grew up in Kärra and has a long history of Hisings lineage on his father's side, tells us:

– I had been pondering the idea of ​​writing something about Hisingen for many years. Because the whole of Hisingen is treated a bit like a stepmother, from people who live in the city and so on. And there hasn't been much written locally about Hisingen in this way. Now there have been some new generations who may not really have a handle on both the history and what gems there are here.

When he retired a few years ago, he started a hiking blog and wrote a bunch of posts.

– It got a bit of attention and it was fun. I went to basically 25 different places that I had some connection to myself and also to some better-known places like maybe Färjenäs or Älvstranden.

The blog was called Härs och tvars på Hisingen – and was found at the end of 2022 by Mikael Svensson.

– I work as a nature photographer and have done ten books before. Among them is “100 impressions in Mölndal” and I had an idea of ​​doing something similar about Hisingen. But usually you need someone who writes to get a good composition, so I searched around a bit and then I found Claes’ blog. I sent an email to see if he might be interested in collaborating. That’s how we met, says Mikael.

The rest is history, so to speak, and the end result of the collaboration is now available for public viewing and reading.

Were you united in your love of Hising?

– Yes, exactly, says Mikael. I like that Hisingen is a melting pot of everything: Industry, nature and agricultural landscape. So it felt like an exciting project.

Mikael is a native of Mölndal, but has spent a lot of time on Sweden's fifth largest island. Partly in the many natural areas but also at home with his parents who live here.

After diligent searching and fishing, Breakwater Publishing finally picked up on the duo's book idea last spring. That's when the work began in earnest. Partly with the selection but also visiting the different locations – sometimes separately in turns but also both on site at the same time.

What did you think of the pictures?

“Only a fraction of all the photos I took ended up in the book. I sent my photos to the designer who made the selection of what would fit on the pages and with the shape,” says Mikael, who has colors and graphic motifs in mind when he snaps.

– Then you've at least learned a little about what can work in a book.

The book contains everything from drone images to detailed images and images from all seasons and times of day. The posts from Claes' blog could be used as basic material, but much had to be rewritten and rewritten.

– In some places I had to go back and see if anything had happened since I was there last. Like in Arendal, at Arken, where I read in the newspaper that a new ro-ro port had been built, says Claes and explains that one of the most fun things was learning new things myself during the time – including about the refinery that can be glimpsed behind the trees where a woodpecker makes itself known.

– During the 1940s, some rich Swedes heard about a packed refinery in California that was going to be sent to China. But when the communists took over, the Americans didn't want to send it there. So they bought it here and set it up here. It was one of the first refineries in Sweden.

It's clear how passionate Claes is about Hisingen, and he talks passionately about even more fascinating places in the book. Mikael has also learned many important lessons.

– I've discovered several new places that I hadn't visited before, and it's been interesting. And I've learned to get around even better with the car here, Mikael laughs.

That Hisingen is an island of contrasts is a recurring theme during the interview. Partly with the Rya forest sandwiched in, but also that there is a mix of old and new.

– A tram line is being built to Lindholmen and there are major changes taking place, especially along the river. Then things are more quiet in other places. We have a stop at Säve kyrkeby where we have interviewed one of the two farmers who are showing off the potato harvest. We also have ancient remains, IT companies and the very nice villas in Torslanda and Hällsvik here. You could say that Hisingen has everything, says Claes proudly.

The book is available for purchase on the publisher's website and all major online booksellers. The release was celebrated on a Friday evening earlier in April when there was a slide show, bubbles, book snacks, mingling and hot dogs at Aftonstjärnan, which attracted around 60 people.

While Mikael is more versed in the industry, "101 Hits on Hisingen" is actually Claes' debut book.

– It feels great that this idea finally came to fruition, because I've had thoughts about this for many years. So I'm happy and proud of this. The response so far has been positive and we've received several requests to go out and give lectures. Tomorrow we're going to Landala and if you want us to visit, just get in touch, says Claes.

Jonas Bengtsson / Lokalpressen Backa/Kärra on April 26, 2025