Tanum Rock Carvings

Around Tanum in Bohuslan, thousands of Bronze Age figures were pecked into the smooth glacier-polished rock some three thousand years ago, a UNESCO site of ships, warriors, animals and sun symbols painted red for visibility. The Vitlycke panel and its museum are the heart of one of the richest rock-art landscapes in Europe.

What you actually see

• The Vitlycke panel - the great rock covered in ships, figures and the famous bridal couple.
• Ships and warriors - the recurring carved boats, fighters and animals.
• Sun symbols - the wheels and discs of the Bronze Age sun cult.
• The museum - the reconstructed Bronze Age farm and the story of the carvings.

When to go

The snow-free months, when the carvings are visible and the museum open; a dry, bright day makes the red-painted figures easiest to read. Several carved sites lie within a short drive.

Honest expectations

The carvings are subtle, picked out in red for visibility, so they reward the museum's context and a little patience more than a quick glance. Sites are spread across the countryside, so a car helps. It is a specialised prehistoric visit, fascinating for the interested.

Nearby

The Bohuslan coast and its fishing villages are close; the Koster islands lie to the north.