- Gestad
Gestad is a parish in the
Dalsland part ofVänersborg Municipality ,Sweden , located about 20 km north of the city ofVänersborg and 10 km east of the villageBrålanda . The parish includes both farmland and forests. It has its border with the great lakeVänern 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,Turkey . 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 1800s, 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 inNuremberg ,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
alter was added in 1914 and is a drawing by Hj Tessing. The painting shows whenJesus 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 movieOne Summer of Happiness (Swedish: "Hon dansade en sommar"). 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 majorarchaeological 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.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.