Gestad

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Gestad is a parish in the Dalsland part of Vänersborg Municipality, Sweden, located about 20 km north of the city of Vänersborg and 10 km east of the village Brålanda. The parish includes both farmland and forests. It has it border with the great lake Vänern in the east and is in the middle of Dalbo plain.

In the old place of a former church (300 m north of the present church) there is a great monument in honor to the old church and of Lieutenant General Erik Axel Roos, who is buried on the location. 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."

The Service 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. Today, it is known that it was made sometime in the long period in 1100 - and 1200's. There is also a ”dopfat” made in Nuremberg, Germany, in the end of the 1400's. It was donated to the church by General Roos´ family.

The church stored previously general Roos´ sword and spurs. These were stolen in a burglary, however, in the 1980s and has never been found. The paiting over the alter was added in 1914 and is a drawing of Hj Tessing. The painting shows when Jesus walked on water.

Every year, in early July, there is organized 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 for the general public, is the book "The Dance in summer time", which constituted the model of the movie "She danced a summer". In the book appears in literary form the mood among rural youth in the late 1940s.

Near the church, it has been found the foundations of a larger building. The place named ”Murängen” and one theory is that there was a larger courtyard country manor from the Viking era, or some time later. The manor had probably also a smaller church or chapel. A major archaeological excavation took place in the years 1986 to 1990.

Sikhall bathing place, and camping is in the parish.

In the school of Skerrud is teaching in grades 1 to 6.