Gestad
Encyclopedia
Gestad is a parish in the Dalsland
part of Vänersborg Municipality
, Sweden, located about 20 km north of the city of Vänersborg
and 10 km east of the village Brålanda
. The parish includes both farmland and forests. It has its border with the great lake Vänern
in the east and is in the middle of Dalbo plain.
At the location of a former church (300 m north of the present church) there is a monument in honor to the old church and of Lieutenant General Axel Erik Roos
, who is buried on the site. The monument was erected in 1919. Roos was an officer in the army of King Karl XII
and is well-known for having three times the same day saved the life of the king during the so-called kalabaliken
(skirmish) in Bender, Moldova
. Gestad was previously dominated by the manor Lövås situated around 1 km southeast of the church. The parish was previously known for the extensive cultivation of oats. Oats were exported in the late 19th century, to a large extent, inter alia, to the London area (horse fodder). The Gestad area has been characterised by the words: "Heaven and oats".
Church attendance has previously been high in Gestad. In the parish there are two churches belonging to the Church of Sweden
- Gestad and Timmervik churches - and also a mission chapel that is of interest.
In Gestad church, built 1796-1799 and consecrated in 1800, is a very old baptismal font
("dopfunt") in sandstone. It is known that it was made sometime in the 12th or 13th century. There is also a ”dopfat” made in Nuremberg
, Germany at the end of the 15th century, donated to the church by General Roos´ family.
The church previously stored general Roos´ sword and spurs, but these were stolen in a burglary in the 1980s and have never been found. The painting over the altar
was added in 1914 and is a drawing by Hj Tessing. The painting shows when Jesus
walked on water.
Every year, in early July, there is a major meeting in Gestad with the display of tractors and ploughing.
The author Per Olof Ekström (1926–1981) was born, raised and lived in Gestad. He engaged in farming while he was also a writer. Ekström wrote nearly 50 books. Best known to the general public is the book Sommardansen, which formed the basis for the movie One Summer of Happiness
. The book reflects, in literary form, the mood among rural youth in the late 1940s.
Near the church, at a place named Murängen, has been found the foundations of a larger building. One theory is that there was a larger courtyard country manor from the Viking
era, or some time later. The manor probably also had a smaller church or chapel. A major archaeological excavation took place in the years 1986 to 1990.
Sikhall bathing place, and camping is in the parish.
The school of Skerrud covers grades 1 to 6.
Dalsland
Dalsland is a Swedish traditional province, or landskap, situated in Götaland in southern Sweden. Lying to the west of Lake Vänern, it is bordered by Värmland to the north, Västergötland to the southeast, Bohuslän to the west, and Norway to the northwest....
part of Vänersborg Municipality
Vänersborg Municipality
Vänersborg Municipality is a municipality in Västra Götaland County in western Sweden. Its seat is located in the city of Vänersborg.The present municipality was created during the local government reform in the early 1970s...
, Sweden, located about 20 km north of the city of Vänersborg
Vänersborg
Vänersborg is a locality and the seat of Vänersborg Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 21,672 inhabitants in 2005. Until 1997 it was the capital of Älvsborg County, which was dissolved in 1998. Since 1999 Vänersborg is the seat of the regional parliament of Västra Götaland County...
and 10 km east of the village Brålanda
Brålanda
Brålanda is a locality situated in Vänersborg Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 1,472 inhabitants in 2005.It is situated 24 km north of the town Vänersborg, by the southern parts of lake Vänern...
. The parish includes both farmland and forests. It has its border with the great lake Vänern
Vänern
Vänern is the largest lake in Sweden, the largest lake in the EU and the third largest lake in Europe after Ladoga and Onega in Russia. It is located in the provinces of Västergötland, Dalsland, and Värmland in the southwest of the country.- History :...
in the east and is in the middle of Dalbo plain.
At the location of a former church (300 m north of the present church) there is a monument in honor to the old church and of Lieutenant General Axel Erik Roos
Axel Erik Roos
Axel Erik Roos, born in 1684 in Årnäs in Västergötland, died December 14, 1765 in Lövåsen, Gestad, Dalsland was a baron, lieutenant general in the Swedish army of Charles XII of Sweden, and governor of Dalsland.-Career:...
, who is buried on the site. The monument was erected in 1919. Roos was an officer in the army of King Karl XII
Charles XII of Sweden
Charles XII also Carl of Sweden, , Latinized to Carolus Rex, Turkish: Demirbaş Şarl, also known as Charles the Habitué was the King of the Swedish Empire from 1697 to 1718...
and is well-known for having three times the same day saved the life of the king during the so-called kalabaliken
Skirmish at Bender
The Skirmish at Bender was devised to remove Charles XII of Sweden from the Ottoman Empire after his military defeats in Russia. It took place on February 1, 1713 on Ottoman territory, in what is now the town of Bender, Moldova.-History:...
(skirmish) in Bender, Moldova
Bender, Moldova
Bender or Bendery, also known as Tighina is a city within the internationally recognized borders of Moldova under de facto control of the unrecognized Transnistria Republic since 1992...
. Gestad was previously dominated by the manor Lövås situated around 1 km southeast of the church. The parish was previously known for the extensive cultivation of oats. Oats were exported in the late 19th century, to a large extent, inter alia, to the London area (horse fodder). The Gestad area has been characterised by the words: "Heaven and oats".
Church attendance has previously been high in Gestad. In the parish there are two churches belonging to the Church of Sweden
Church of Sweden
The Church of Sweden is the largest Christian church in Sweden. The church professes the Lutheran faith and is a member of the Porvoo Communion. With 6,589,769 baptized members, it is the largest Lutheran church in the world, although combined, there are more Lutherans in the member churches of...
- Gestad and Timmervik churches - and also a mission chapel that is of interest.
In Gestad church, built 1796-1799 and consecrated in 1800, is a very old baptismal font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
("dopfunt") in sandstone. It is known that it was made sometime in the 12th or 13th century. There is also a ”dopfat” made in Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
, Germany at the end of the 15th century, donated to the church by General Roos´ family.
The church previously stored general Roos´ sword and spurs, but these were stolen in a burglary in the 1980s and have never been found. The painting over the altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
was added in 1914 and is a drawing by Hj Tessing. The painting shows when Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
walked on water.
Every year, in early July, there is a major meeting in Gestad with the display of tractors and ploughing.
The author Per Olof Ekström (1926–1981) was born, raised and lived in Gestad. He engaged in farming while he was also a writer. Ekström wrote nearly 50 books. Best known to the general public is the book Sommardansen, which formed the basis for the movie One Summer of Happiness
One Summer of Happiness
One Summer of Happiness is a 1951 Swedish film based on the novel Sommardansen by Per Olof Ekström. It tells the story of teenage lovers who meet on a farm...
. The book reflects, in literary form, the mood among rural youth in the late 1940s.
Near the church, at a place named Murängen, has been found the foundations of a larger building. One theory is that there was a larger courtyard country manor from the Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
era, or some time later. The manor probably also had a smaller church or chapel. A major archaeological excavation took place in the years 1986 to 1990.
Sikhall bathing place, and camping is in the parish.
The school of Skerrud covers grades 1 to 6.