Discover Bäck: Cultural Landscape and Fäbod Trails

If you are considering Bäck as a travel destination, three themes stand out: open cultural landscape along Siljan, traces of cultural history and trails associated with Fäbod environments. Bäck is situated in an exposed position in an open cultural landscape, with sweeping views across Siljan. The village is also one of the villages in the Söderås cultural landscape, which is classified as an area of national cultural-historical interest. The landscape views, trail routes and history of nearby Prästbodarna each add their own character.

Cultural Landscape and Traces in Bäck

Clearance cairns are also part of the cultural-historical landscape of Söderås. The term refers to piles of stones formed when land was cleared. They add a tangible cultural-historical dimension to the open landscape: alongside the sweeping views across Siljan, traces of work on the fields are also part of the landscape’s character.

A single discovery adds to this landscape and cultural context: in 1965, a mammoth tooth was found in Bäck, in Söderås on the road out of Rättvik towards Falun, during excavation work for a garage driveway. Alongside the landscape and settlement themes, the find also brings a geological connection to the history of the place.

Trails and Getting Around

Coming from Falun, Bäck lies among the sequence of villages Mårtanberg, Söderås, Bäck, Altsarbyn and Gärdebyn. The Elljusspåret in Bäck or the slalom slope in Lerdal are listed as the start and finish points for the Fäbodstigen trail to Prästbodarna. The route is approximately 42 kilometres long. Check the current route information to confirm the approximate distance when planning your trip. The route is long.

On the Böle–Rättvik (Enåbadet) section of the Siljansleden, the trail turns uphill into the forest at Bäck. Hiking along a Fäbod trail in Rättvik Municipality takes you through various Fäbod environments. You may see remnants of wooden fences, trail markings, house foundations, springs, old deciduous trees and meadow flowers. Possible sights therefore range from traces of former buildings to natural features along the trail.

Prästbodarna and Its History

Nearby Bäck, Prästbodarna lies above the village of Dådran. The place dates back at least to the 16th century. Prästbodarna has around 80 houses; most are used for Fäbod farming as well as hunting, fishing and berry picking. Together, its long history and varied uses offer insight into the historical themes associated with the place.

Prästbodarna can be reached via a 1,500-metre Fäbod trail or by a four-kilometre road. The two routes differ in type and length; the trail is shorter than the road route.

Discover more destinations: Rättvik, Enviken, Vikarbyn, Böda, Furudal.

Back to the main travel overview: Rättvik.