How to get here
The walk here
From the summer farm (fäbod) Ruvallen, a scenic and easy walk leads to the fascinating rock paintings at Ruändan on Flatruet. The route runs through open, easy-going mountain landscape with wide views over the Messlingen lakes and the mountain peaks to the west. The path is clear and marked, which makes it easy to find your way even for inexperienced walkers.
Good to know
The walk to the rock paintings at Ruändan on Flatruet is easy and suits most people, both families with children and inexperienced mountain hikers. The route is well signposted from the road and follows a clear path through the open mountain landscape, so it is easy to navigate even for beginners. Even so, you should be prepared, as the weather in the mountains can change quickly – bring a windproof jacket, a warm sweater and preferably a hat, even in the summer months.
The path is uneven and stony in places, so a pair of sturdy shoes is recommended. The paintings are on a vertical rock face and are easy to miss if you do not know where to look – but the spot is marked and has an information sign.
Show consideration for nature and do not touch the paintings – they are thousands of years old and very fragile. The walk is short but full of experiences, and a fantastic chance to step right into our prehistory.
History
The rock paintings in Messlingen are some of Sweden's highest-lying and most enigmatic ancient monuments. They are at Ruändan on Flatruet, painted directly on a vertical rock face high above the tree line – an unusual location, as rock paintings are otherwise most often found by water. Here, in the harsh mountain landscape, Stone Age people painted symbols and figures in red, probably using iron oxide and animal fat. The paintings are believed to be over 4,000 years old and may have had ritual significance – perhaps linked to hunting, the movements of animals or the spirit world. Traces of ancient settlements and tools have been found nearby, showing that the area has been an important hunting and living area for thousands of years.
What the paintings depict is interpreted in different ways – people, elk or symbolic signs. Their exact meaning is shrouded in mystery, but they offer a fascinating window into a life long before our time.
