Torp is Medelpad’s largest parish in terms of area and borders Sundsvall Municipality. It is a typical river valley and agricultural area with very old roots. The parish has valley settlements along the waterways and high forest areas around them with several heights exceeding 500 metres above sea level, where Getberget is known for its view and ski slope. Further down the page, you will find more information about the towns on the map.
Here, you can read more about Torp Parish’s history.
Fränsta
Fränsta is the centre of Torp Parish and stands out with a beautiful view over Torpsjön and a culturally interesting street with grocery and service shops. The town buzzes with entrepreneurial spirit and has three preschools and a municipal primary school from preschool class to year nine. In Fränsta, there is also Ålsta Folk High School, the oldest in Norrland, focused on creativity.
The newly renovated Ljungandalens Bad & Sport offers swimming with nice children's pools, a large sports hall, and a gym. At Myggvallen, there are football fields and cross-country ski trails.
A popular hiking trail starts from the church westward along S. Olavsleden and then takes a round trip back to Fränsta on the southern side of the river at Byforsbron.
Both the E14 and the railway pass through the town towards Sundsvall in the east and Östersund, Åre, Trondheim in the west. Buses and trains contribute to good commuting possibilities.
Ljungaverk
Ljungaverk is another town in Torp Parish, just over a mile west of Fränsta. It has its origins in the days of industrialisation at the beginning of the 20th century and is considered the cradle of the Swedish chemical industry.
Ljungaverk has an active community life and many entrepreneurs leave their mark on the town. There is a preschool and a municipal school up to sixth grade.
In Ljungaverk, the recurring festival Ljungarocken is organised. Nearby, Getberget has a ski slope with two runs, and at Hussborgs Manor, there is a fine 18-hole golf course.
Here too, the railway and E14 pass through with good commuting connections.
Torpshammar
Torpshammar and its surrounding villages lie beautifully downstream from Fränsta where Gimån flows into Ljungan and about 55 km west of Sundsvall with good connections both east and west via the E14 and the railway.
Torpshammar’s growth began when traders Lars Sundqvist and Magnus Huss were granted a privilege in 1797 to establish an ironworks, Torps Bruk, at Gimåfallen.
Today's Torpshammar has a cohesive centre where the bus and train station, preschool, school, shop, and library are centrally located. There is also an active sports club and tourist activities like Boda Borg and Camp Mid Adventure.
Munkbysjön
Munkbysjön is located right at the foot of Sweden's geographical midpoint - the mountain Flataklocken. The winding "alpine road" up to the 465-metre-high mountain offers a magnificent view and a summer-open café. The distance to school and grocery store in Torpshammar is just under 8 km.
The village is known for its active inhabitants. Every year on the first weekend of September, a large autumn market - Mittmarken - is organised, attracting thousands of visitors. In winter, fishing competitions are organised, and in summer, there is excellent fishing in several ponds. The area is popular with summer cottage owners, but many young people have also discovered it and made it their home.
Naggen
Naggen is one of the southernmost villages in the municipality and is located very close to the border with Hälsingland. It is peaceful and beautiful here, and the village is situated at 500 metres height, often having good snowmobile conditions early in the season with many fine snowmobile trails. The village’s residents have strong community bonds and several active associations that organise pleasant recurring activities throughout the year, such as the Folkethus association that runs a well-maintained community centre and the snowmobile club that organises Västernorrland's largest annual snowmobile event on the first weekend in March. Here, you can also rent accommodations, canoes, boats, fishing equipment, ATVs, and snowmobiles.
Naggen offers excellent fishing, and the village has access to a trained fishing/hunting guide for groups. In the lookout tower in the middle of the village on the mountain Långåsen, there is a good view over forests and lakes.
Nordanede
North of Torpshammar, near Gimån by the lakes Norrsjön and Mellansjön lies the village of Nordanede. The nearby villages of Knutnäset, Hästnäset, Fårnäset, Mellanleringen, and Sörleringen are also considered part of Nordanede. The village is a popular vacation home area due to the beautiful environment and views over the lakes.
Nordanede has an active village association that organises activities such as markets, fishing competitions, and maintains the village’s bathing place and ice cream kiosk during the summer. The village is located within the Nedre Gimån fishing conservation area and is an attractive fishing paradise. Within the fishing conservation area, there are two "put and take" waters, Fårtjärn and Abborrsjön. Fish are also stocked in Leringen and Mellansjön.
Roggafors Finsta Viken
On the southern side of Ljungan, opposite Fränsta, are the three villages of Roggafors, Finnsta, and Viken.
In 1976, members from the three villages formed an association, RFV Roggafors-Finnsta-Viken Interest Association. A year later, the association got the opportunity to acquire the Good Templar Hall (GT-hall) in Viken and turn it into a meeting place. The three-leaf clover became the name of the hall and has always been a gathering place for villagers, and the association’s purpose has always been to safeguard the interests of the three villages and promote good cohesion.
Over the years, the three-leaf clover has become a concept, and the hall is also rented out to various associations in the area. Festivals are organised by companies and individuals, and the investment that began in the 70s has brought great joy to many.
The famous Vikbron, which spans over Ljungan at the inlet to Torpsjön, was built during the years 1887-88. It is unique in its kind and is considered Sweden's longest wooden bridge built entirely of wood. It was the villagers of Viken and Finnsta who built the bridge. Since 2021, Ånge Municipality has taken over the responsibility for Vikbron and its maintenance while RFV is responsible for the hiking trails on the southern side of Ljungan.
Not far from Vikbron lies Viknäset, which with its 10 burial mounds is the largest burial field in the inland of Medelpad. In the village of Viken, there is a popular and well-visited bathing and boat place.
Kälen
Kälen, a village located about a mile south of Fränsta, is described as a northern paradise in the middle of Sweden. The surrounding nature offers good hunting and fishing opportunities. "Welcome to a joyful life in the countryside," greets Kälens Bygdegårdsförening. The association, which has been active since the early 70s, aims to safeguard the village’s interests. In addition to promoting good cohesion, they ensure that the community centre and dance floor are preserved and developed.
Viskan
The village of Viskan lies midway between Ånge and Sundsvall and borders Ånge Municipality. The idyllic location and beautiful nature led to the film "The Miracle in Viskan" from 2012 - starring Rolf Lassgård and Lia Boysen - being filmed here, making the village a bit of a celebrity and attracting more tourists to discover the area's beauty. The not-too-high mountains and the wide-open valleys, together with the river and dam, create a magnificent landscape.
Viskanparken is another celebrity. The folk park, which started in the 50s, has been named by Swedish Radio as one of pop history's most important places. Among other things, they turned down the Beatles half a year before they broke through. Enthusiasts still keep the park alive with artist performances during the summer months.