Trollhattan Tourist Attractions

Where one must have been ...

Update December 2013

The Saab Museum and Film i Väst

Of course, the Saab Museum is currently in the first place. It is located in Innovatum Complex in Åkerssjövägen, right on the canal. On the way to the museum you pass the Film i Väst building. Trollhättan is also known as “Trollywood” in Sweden, and many Scandinavian crime novels were filmed there. Film i Väst is partly owned by the Trollhättan municipality and Gothenburg is also a shareholder.

Film Studios Film i Vaest
Film Studios Film i Vaest

From Swania Hotel it is a short walk along Göta Älv. If you are driving, follow the Innovatum and “Bil Museum” signposts.

There are enough parking spaces in front of the museum, and if a red Saab 900 Turbo is at the door, curator Peter Bäckström is in the house. You should bring a lot of time for the museum. Housed in the former halls of the Nohab locomotive factory, it's not big, but full of Saab history.

Saab Museum Trollhattan
Saab Museum Trollhattan

The museum service is currently provided by volunteer Saab veterans, who often speak German or English very well. If you are lucky, you can have Saab talks with one of these former employees and learn some of the secrets of our cult brand from Trollhättan. Coffee and veteran homemade cakes are always, the atmosphere is warm, family. Typical Saab just!

The Saab Museum also houses a small cinema. Often, Saab Motorsport films from the good times run there, and when Peter Bäckström notices a German tour group, films are also screened in our language.

The roots of Trollhättan: waterfalls, old power plant

In summer you can change from the museum via cable car to the canal. In the past, one gondola bore a Saab logo, the other the sign of the other brand from Gothenburg. Saab fans had the choice of the correct cabin, but this tradition ended 2013.

In the gondola over the canal
In the gondola over the canal

In winter, only the way back to the city center helps, because the cable car is out of service. Then change over the bridge at the Swania Hotel to the other side of the canal.

After the cable car ride you have the choice. The old hydropower plant 1908 is downstream. Well worth a visit, because it is a worth seeing industrial monument. In summer there are also guided tours. Further down the canal there is a nature reserve that is worth a hike. We have not yet entered it.

Industrial monument: hydroelectric power plant
Industrial monument: hydroelectric power plant

In the direction of the city, it goes to the waterfalls. In the past centuries, the ships that were on the way to the big lakes had to pull up the rugged rocks. Not every ship survived the procedure.

Water power was used in Trollhättan early on, and the industrial heart of the city began to beat at this point. Even today you can see in the deep ravine the foundations of the former workshops and iron hammers.

In the months of May, June and September every Saturday at 15: 00 water is drained through the falls, a spectacular spectacle. In July and August you can attend the spectacle every day at the same time.

Falling Dagar

The waterfall is illuminated during the “Fallens Dagar”, which takes place from 20.-22. July take place. Vattenfall, the power plant operator, then lets water rush through the gorge at 12.00:14, 00:16, 00:18, 00:20, 00:23 and 00:23. At 00 p.m. with lighting.

Trollhattan: Waterfall at Fallensdagar
Trollhattan: Waterfall at Fallensdagar

During “Fallens Dagar” Trollhättan is in a state of emergency. The whole city is celebrated, there is an open-air stage at the waterfalls. On the last evening, an illuminated waterfall and large fireworks offer an incomparable backdrop.

Of course, hotel rooms get very hard during those days.

The Saab factory in the Stallbacka

The Saab factory has been a sad story in recent years, and now life is coming back to Stallbacka. The grounds have been redesigned, many renovated, the main portal shines in new colors. Since the 2. December 2013 runs a small pilot production at the factory. The signs are on the move.

SAAB factory in the Stallbacka, Picture by Saabsunited
SAAB factory in the Stallbacka, Picture by Saabsunited

It is best to drive over the Flygfältsvägen to the main entrance, passing to the left side of the gym for employees, which is back in operation, then comes to the left of the former development department.

Saab Powertrain Department
Saab Powertrain Department

Many outdoor buildings are leased to companies that work directly with Saab or are state-subsidized start-ups. NEVS focuses on the core area of ​​the plant. The striking, large building a little further back is the building of the powertrain department, where the changes are particularly noticeable.

A Saab Startup, Nercia, LeanNova and the former Saab Automobile Parts AB, which now bears the name Orio, are currently working there with Vicura. On the right-hand side, just before the main entrance - here you change to the small Saabvägen - was the IT department. Now there is the Combitech logo on it, formerly the GM subsidiary EDS was at home here, then under Spyker direction HP.

Mark's Saab 9-3 2012 at the main entrance
Mark's Saab 9-3 2012 at the main entrance

The main entrance, which is smaller than you think, is the place where Victor Muller proclaimed independence and celebrated the first anniversary. But it is also the place where press teams and cameras announced the end of Saab in December 2011. The offices where Saab blogger Steven Wade was at home were under the big Saab lettering. The management is still working there today, and there is hustle and bustle behind the windows at the weekend.

On the main portal, the changes of recent months are particularly well recognized. The Saab livery of 60er and 70er years disappeared, fences and access control were reinstalled. As in many places in the factory, the installations for charging stations are identifiable and the access roads were re-paved.

NEVS Maingate 2013
NEVS Maingate 2013

To the left of the main entrance, a bit to the rear, you will find the former Saab Design department. It still seems to be in slumber, there has not been any visible activity in recent years, and the buildings are in poor condition.

Saab design department
Saab design department

If you round the large, almost empty parking lot, where formerly factory-fresh Saab used to stand, in the direction of the north gate, then the in-house test track is on the right side. The road is not always accessible, since summer 2013 barriers provide the way, and the landlord makes use of his right. The site is monitored by cameras, there is no parking for cars, and in contrast to earlier times, the security is quite humorless.

Well secured, it is currently not possible to see the route, but a walk is still worthwhile and tolerated. The access to the test track is through an underpass, which you pass shortly before the north gate. To the right of the entrance are the after-sales department buildings, behind it the “warehouse”

Airfield Trollhattan - Vänersborg
Trollhattan Airfield - Vanersborg

Behind the factory is the airfield Trollhättan / Vänersborg. The Saab factory has its origins in aircraft construction, the Tower on the historic site served in the early days as a laboratory for engine development. On the airfield with very manageable traffic you can always start and land a Saab.

Saab press shop 2013
Saab press shop 2013

Going down the street in the direction of the canal, you pass the bodywork and can listen to the sound of the mighty presses. Unfortunately, almost all sightlines have been sealed with containers, but in some places you can see the traffic in the factory.

ANA Trollhattan

The once largest Saab dealer is based at the legendary ANA roundabout. After leaving the property for a short time, you are now back with BMW and MINI. There are still interesting Saabs on offer, but you are now visiting a BMW dealer. You do not have to travel to Sweden, BMW and MINI are also available in Germany, and the visit is worthwhile only for absolutely intrepid.

Ecopark Halle-Hunneberg

Absolutely not with Saab, but Ökopark Halle-Hunneberg has a lot to do with Sweden. Carl XVI Gustav, King of Sweden, goes moose hunting here in autumn and likes to visit Trollhättan on this occasion. Just a few minutes' drive from the Saab plant, you can immerse yourself in the wild nature of Västragötland. The visit is definitely worth it.

Text: tom@saabblog.net

Pictures: Saabsunited, saabblog.net