Unique nature near the city

A gravel pit that flourished

From the beginning of the 20th century and for roughly ninety years onwards, the area was used as a gravel pit. The lake was first created in connection with the gravel mining. The hundred-year-old factory building at the north parking lot bears witness to this heyday of the gravel roof. Many houses in Malmö have even been built with limestone sandstone from Arrie. Traces of this industry, which continued until 1998, can be seen everywhere in nature. Then nature began to take over again and the calcareous soil caused herbs such as blue fire and blue raspberry to flourish. Insects such as bluewings and grasshoppers and frogs also thrive in the area. In the summer of 2021, we sold the factory to a contractor who is now renovating the premises.

Mammoths and ancient elephants

For hundreds of years, the approximately 20 meter high hill was called Risebjer - Danish for "the big mountain". The Ice Age hill formations rose above the plain and were one of the few vantage points to climb, created by an ice river, that is, meltwater that flowed under the ice sheet. Ricebjär consisted of different layers of clay, calcareous inland gravel and sand with moraine clay at the bottom. Among other things, a mammoth tooth has been found in the litter's deposits. About 30,000 years ago, mammoths, woolly rhinoceroses, steppe bison and musk oxen probably grazed here.

Lake Arriesjön after Ari's mound who was an Old Norse man

The Arrie parish has ancient origins. The place has probably been called Ari's mound, after the Old Norse male name Ari. Arrögum is first mentioned in the 1120s, followed by Arröghe in 1346 and Arrye in 1443. For centuries, the difficult-to-cultivate, sandy and steep area of ​​Risebjär was used as pasture.

The angry Risebjärafrun who didn't like beer parties

According to legend, a witch lived up on the rise Risebjär together with her two adult daughters. The coexistence with the villagers worked well and the goblins used to go to the people's parties, until the village servants teased the goblins and spilled beer on them. Mrs. Risebjära was furious and told that henceforth no beer would be drunk in Arrie but that this would result in fights. When she heard Bastorp's bells ringing – there was a church there until the 16th century – she threw a boulder at them. According to an 18th century story, it ended up in a bog near the village.

Project support from the EU

The walking area was built up during 2009-2012 and has been financed with the help of project support from the EU and the County Administrative Board's rural program. Read more at the EU Commission site.