Bollnäs Municipality


Bollnäs Municipality is a municipality in Gävleborg County, east central Sweden. Its seat is located in Bollnäs.
The municipality evolved during a series of local government reforms in the 1950s and 1970s. It consists of six original entities and has its present shape since 1977.

Localities

Population as of 2005:
Through the municipality, from north to southeast, runs the river Ljusnan. Among the localities situated at the river are Bollnäs and Arbrå. South of Bollnäs is the confluence of Ljusnan and its biggest tributary Voxnan.
Nearby the town of Bollnäs are several water areas with fish such as trout, bass and pike. The streams Ljusnan and Voxnan also offer fishing, as does the tributary lake Vågen in Bollnäs.

Protected nature

A total of of the land in the municipality are considered protected nature, for instance there are six nature reserves within the municipality's borders.
The reserves are:
Eight areas are included in Natura 2000. Four of these are also nature reserves – Djupsjön/Römmaberget, Galvån, Grossjöberget and Hästhagsberget – and the other four are Andersvallsslåtten, Haga, Myrsjömyrorna and Tomtas.

Culture

in Rengsjö shows example of hälsingegårdar, old farms built in a way typical for the province of Hälsingland. Other examples of hälsingegårdar are Gästgivars in Vallsta, Erik-Larsgården in Arbrå and Kämpens in Bollnäs.
Outside Växbo, 15 km northeast of Bollnäs, Växbo lin, Växbo kvarn and Trolldalen is situated. Växbo lin is the only remaining spinnery and weavers of linen in Scandinavia. Växbo kvarn is a water mill from the 19th century where flour is ground using old techniques. Trolldalen displays old tools from the 19th century, tools used for processing linen.
Since 1997, the workgroup Kulturarv Hälsingegårdar has been active with the goal to get 15 villages/farms in Hälsingland declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. The villages and farms listed demonstrates examples of the traditional architecture of Hälsingland. On the list are among others Västerby hembygdsby, Växbo kvarn and Trolldalen. In 2006, the County Administrative Board of Gävleborg County handed over the documents concerning the issue to the Swedish National Heritage Board. UNESCO has received the inquiry and will make a decision in July 2009, at the earliest.

Transport

The Northern main line railway follows to great extent Ljusnan through the municipality. Bollnäs town holds the largest train station, the only station where inter-city trains stop. The local train X-tåget, which operates the route Gävle-Ljusdal, makes additional stops at Kilafors, Arbrå and Vallsta.

Twin towns

Bollnäs Municipality has six twin towns:
Result of the 2010 election: