Rövarekulan, Naturreservat

Walk both up the slope of Rövarekulan and down the valley. On the way you pass both the royal stones and the beautiful arched bridge. Rövarekulan is named after the robbers who are said to have ravaged the valley in ancient times. Perhaps the robbers lived in a ball or cave with an iron door deep in the gorge? In the spring, the wood anemone, together with wood anemones and other spring flowers, forms a green carpet under the beech trees on the moist, nutrient-rich soil. In late spring, the whole valley smells of wild garlic.

Avoid crowds at weekends

The parking lot is often full during weekends. Maybe cycle here or do a long walk through the area? Congestion is greatest at entrances and rest areas.

Robbery and dance floor

Rövarekulan is named after the robbers who are said to have ravaged the valley. They are said to have ambushed travelers who came rushing along the highway and crossed Bråån down in the valley. Legends say that there was a robber's ball with an iron door deep in the gorge. The stone bridge over the river was built by Otto Ramel at Löberöd Castle in 1870.

Along the banks of Bråån, fiddlers and dance bands have played for dancing for a long time. The dance floor was still there until 1975. The rune stone by the parking lot was found when the dance floor was demolished. However, it was not made by Vikings, but is a remnant of the 19th century's romantic interest in the past. On one of the ridges there are memorial stones from Crown Prince Oscar's (future Oscar I's) visit in 1836.

Memories of the Ice Age

The gorge was formed 14,000 years ago when the ice sheet melted and a dammed lake burst. The advancing water masses eroded the valley. The water has continued to shape the valley by creating the winding, meandering river that flows down the gorge. The bedrock in Rövarekulan consists of clay shale, and loose pieces of shale cover the bottom of the river. On these you will find a special seashell, the hippo seashell, Ancylus fluviatilis. At the parking lot, the shale wall rises vertically from the bottom of the ravine.

Fragrant beech forests

Together with wood anemones and other spring flowers, the wood anemone forms a green spring carpet under the beech trees on the moist, nutrient-rich soil. In late spring, the whole valley smells of wild garlic. Along the river, orchids such as St. John's wort and meadowsweet bloom in damp meadows. Just north of the bridge there is also a small fen with unusual mosses and sedges.

Rövarekulan has a species richness of plants, lichens and fungi like few other areas in Sweden. A wide variety of environments, long tree continuity and nutrient-rich soil are factors that make it possible to find so many species. As many as 400 species of vascular plants have been recorded at the site.

Life in the river

The water that flows through Bråån is of very good quality. This means that fish such as minnow and brook trout thrive in the river. The rare thick-shelled mussel is also found here. The common tern is one of the river's winter visitors. In the spring, the valley is alive with the songs of the blackcap, black and white flycatcher and nightingale.

Outdoor life

The Skåneleden trail runs through the reserve, both up along the slope and down in the valley. On its way, the trail passes both the royal stones and the beautiful arched bridge. Both sights are close to but on the opposite side of the central parking lot. The yellow and white trail also allows you to make a round trip. If you arrive by bus to Rolsberga, you can start at the windbreak in the northeast. Parts of the trails can periodically be muddy, especially down in the valley. At the parking lot and at the shelter there are toilets and a rest area with a fireplace. Remember to bring charcoal if you are going to barbecue and to take your rubbish home.

**OBS: Red and white trail in the north removed, as a result of the wooden bridge being vandalized and must be removed.

In English

Welcome to Rövarekulan Nature Reserve

Rövarekulan Nature Reserve stretches for 2.5 kilometers along the valley of the river Bråån. The meandering river is edged by pastures and haymeadows. The slopes are clad with beech forest, which is nutrient-and species-rich close to the river, and nutrient-poor and dry in the upper parts.

Lush oasis in the agricultural landscape

In late spring the entire valley is filled with the scent of wild garlic. Together with white anemones and other spring flowers it creates a lush carpet beneath the beeches. In grazed areas along the river, you find early-purple orchids and early-marsh orchids. Just north of the bridge is a small rich fen with unique mosses and sedges. There are no less than 400 species of herbs, shrubs, and trees in the valley, even though the reserve is quite small. Bråån is home to one of Sweden's endangered mussels, the thick shelled river mussel. On the loose pieces of shale on the bottom you find river limpets, another rare species. Both mussels are a sign that the water quality in the river is good. Grey wagtail can be seen in Bråån, and white- throated dipper is one of the winter visitors.

Historical archive

The steep ravine wall in Rövarekulan clearly shows how the bedrock has been formed. Layers and layers of clay, flushed out from an ancient sea, have been packed together under heavy pressure. They have then formed shale, which contains fossils, the remains of small animals embedded in the clay 400 million years ago.

Bandit hideout and dance floor

In the past the road crossed the river in the valley, and the reserve takes its name from the bandits that are said to have plagued the area. According to legend there was a robbers' den with an iron door leading straight into the ravine wall. The stone bridge was not built until the end of the 19th century, by Otto Ramel at Löberöd Castle. Over many years folk musicians and dance orchestras played along the banks of the river Bråån. In the past the train between Eslöv and Ystad stopped here for the Saturday night dances. The rune stone by the parking area was found when the dance floor was demolished as late as 1975. It is not made by Vikings, but is a remnant from the 19th century romantic interest for prehistoric times. On one of the ridges is a memorial stone from 1836, when crown prince Oscar, who later became Oscar I, visited the area.

Walkings from the parking area

If you follow the yellow/white path north along the river and walk back on the road via the arched bridge - approximately 2 km.

If you follow the yellow/white trial to the south, cross the river, and pass via the arched bridge on the way back - approximately 2 km.

Regulations

Within Rövarekulan Nature Reserve it is forbidden to:

• dig or in any other way damage fixed natural objects or surface formations,
• disturb wildlife by e.g. close-up photography of bird nests, etc.,
• bring unleashed dogs,
• light fires other than in designated places,
• drive motorized vehicles other than to designated parking area,
• park other than in specially designated places,
• park caravans or camp,
• break off branches, cut down, or in any other way damage living or dead trees, or otherwise damage vegetation by e.g. picking or digging up plants,
• arrange orienteering checkpoints or mark trails with strips,
• put up boards, placards, posters, signs or similar, or make inscriptions,
• in a disturbing manner use music or sound equipment, or musical instruments,
• ride other than on designated roads and paths.