ävleborg County has been inhabited since the Stone Age. There is Other sacred places in the region to visit GStone Age settlements that are 9000 years old. During the Bronze Age, large stone cairns were built along the coast. The Iron Age is prominent 15 S:t Olofs spring in Järvsö with a large amount of graves and settlements. The parishes were Along the road Kalvstigen, between Järvsö and conformed during the Middle Ages. Gävleborg is the Swedish county Delsbo, and then a small road to the Southeast most rich in forest. The forest, the Baltic Sea coast, farming and the iron N 6841487 E 565304 have formed the history and is still visible in the cultural sites. According to tradition the spring has magical The route goes along the county coast from the south towards the north. power, and King Olov baptized a lot of locals here It starts in Gävle city and ends in Gnarp parish. It contains sites both in the on his way to Norway. 6 9 10 forest, in a coastal environment and in the rural landscape. There are sacred springs, ancient graves, runic stones and many other sites. 12 Skinnlippsstenen 6 Klapern in Norrala 9 The ancient cult place centre In the area of Tallåsen, North of Ljusdal. On the Next to the road between Norrala and Skärså in Hög Southwest side of lake Letssjön N 6804907 E 610226 Around the church in Hög parish, east of Information about the road Information about the length N 6862835 E 550840 Hudiksvall conditions: most roads are kept of the route and hours: Mighty cairns from the Bronze Age. They were N 6849841 E 607641 A large stone where Stone Age inhabitants has in good condition. Some of appr. 350 km and 12 hours built to honour the dead family member, and painted warrior paintings. the forest roads can be in bad also to send him/her safely to the kingdom of The area around the church in Hög has been a condition during early spring and death and to keep him there. The cairns also cult place from early Iron Age to the Middle Ages 16 early winter. worked as a territory marking for the local tribe. when the church was built. In the area lived a rich 13 The Hamre grave field They were placed on strategic hills to control the and noble family. Their wealth descended from On a headland in Färnebofjärden. More than one 16 Smedjenäset, Viken, in Alfta 3 communication routes at sea and on land. skin and furs. During the late Iron Age and early hundred Iron Ages graves The road between Alfta and Ovanåker. In the A whole set of rituals and cult based aspects were Middle Ages there was a pagan cult place, a large N 6679144 E 599142 village Viken, take the small road to the south involved in the burial process. After the funeral, stone circle, close to the large grave mound “Kings The biggest grave field from early Iron Age in the N 6801347 E 552583 the forefathers could be called upon at special mound”. This was the centre of the cult and of legal county. occasions, for advice and other purposes. matters during the Iron Age. Only the cult leader Grave field from Early Iron Age, partly excavated. was allowed inside the circle. The church was built in 1191–1192. 17 Sten-karlen in Årsunda Within the project Cult Identity, The County 14 From Hedkarlby to Åkeslund, and the old church museum of Gävleborg region have performed path to the southwest archaeological excavations in the area. The N 6708415 E 593416 pagan cult place and houses dated to 200 AD was investigated. It became clear that the family A man was killed at the site long ago. By passer 1 who lived here had controlled the stream Hornån, throws stone on the spot in protection of the and had contacts in the Roman Empire. They dead. 1 The grave field at Järvsta, 3 abandoned their farm when it was not possible to runic stone, fertility switch Between and in Hamrånge sail up the stream any longer. Where they went we 18 The trinity spring in Hagalund board N 6755719 E 612643 do not know, but their large mounds still lies there, The road between Storvik and Hosjön. At Järvsta village, outside Gävle, close to the road in harmony with the landscape. 14 Onbacken in Bollnäs From the beginning, Totra belonged to the Hagalund to the south across a field to The mounds in the area were built to honor A hill in the middle of Bollnäs. Stroll area neighbouring village Häckelsäng. The name N 6719896 E 581526 N 6725764 E 619359 and worship the ancestors, but also to mark the between the railway and Ljusnan Häckelsäng has a religious content. It was a cult Grave field from Viking Age. The grave field tribes territory. The runic stones were risen as a N 6802700 E 574742 On trinity people throw coins in the water and place during the Viking Age. In a cult field in contains 35 graves, a runic stone and a fertility honorable and ritual act, and to remind people make a wish. If you keep quiet twenty-four hours the village, objects of great value belonging to Grave and settlement area from the Early Iron Age. switchboard. During the Viking Age the grave of the forefathers and of the new religion. During the wish came true. a Viking Age smith has been found. They were field was situated close to the sea in a sheltered Medieval Times, the church and the Kings estate an iron oath ring, that the Vikings held when bay. Some graves are excavated, and it shows were built here because of the greatness and status they swore their holy oath. There also was a influences from other sites in the Baltic Sea of the history of this place. blacksmiths hammer. The important place during Tourism information region. It also exhibits the conversion from the Iron Age developed into a farm on the hill 7 paganism to Christianity. The people had great with a tower during early Medieval times. The festivities in connection with the funerals. Runic Tourist agency Gävle Tourist agency Hudiksvall local chief lived here with his family and staff. 7 The Pagan Hill stones were risen as a holy act to celebrate the Drottninggatan 22, Gävle Storgatan 33, 824 30 Hudiksvall Totra farm and tower controlled the coast and “Hedningahällan” forefathers and the Christening of the area. It +4626177117 +4665019100 the land in this area during a long period of time. Go along the road between Enånger and could also symbolize the building of a bridge and [email protected] turistbyrå[email protected] The family most likely traded with iron and/or fur. Långvind. Look out for a small road to the west other honorable acts. This runic stone mentions www.gavle.se www.hudiksvall.se N 6819276 E 607010 a journey to the East and speaks of the king Tourist agency Söderhamn Tourist agency Nordanstig (Jättendal) Emund, who ruled in the middle of the 10th During the late Stone Age (2 500 BC) this cliff was Köpmangatan 11, 826 30 Söderhamn Landsvägen 1, 820 76 Jättendal century. an island in the sea. Now, it is situated in the forest. +4627075353 +4665216175 To get pregnant easier, women were supposed People from different areas around the Baltic Sea 10 [email protected] [email protected] to slide down the hillside of the grave field. You gathered up on the cliff. We know that because www.soderhamn.se www.bokningscentralen.com can still see the line in the stone. The hills with the archaeologists has found ceramics from the 10 The labyrinth at Kuggörarna slides (switchboards) is often found in the vicinity present Finland and other areas. It is the oldest The northeast part of the island Kuggören of rock carvings and cup mark stones from the cult place in the route! The people who came N 6843903 E 633034 About other sightseeing objects / options within the route Bronze age. They were clearly a part of a holy here performed ritual celebrations in which a lot 4 www.raa.se/fornsok www.halsingland.se fertility complex. They also, for some reason, of stone axes, ceramics and other objects were Labyrinths were built by sailors and fishermen to Ancient sites. A site with a database and map Tourism in Hälsingland. Tourism website with often coincide with Iron Age grave fields. crushed. They were probably crushed as a kind catch the storm. They all have different layouts. The 4 Jättendalarna in Hille with every known ancient site and historic site booking facilities etc. of sacrifice. Also, they most likely arranged cult entrance is facing different directions, probably Just beside the old road E4 in Björke in the country. festivities on this flat island in the Baltic Sea. towards the eye of the storm. The labyrinths could www.halsingegardar.se 2 Lervik spring N 6737577 E 619229 also be constructed to affect the fishing luck. Often www.raa.se Tourism and cultural environment in The road to Gävle harbor. A path leads to the Jättendalarna is a mound grave field from there is a special elaborated feature in the middle. Cultural history and environment in . Hälsingland. Website of the Hälsingland world east just before the road to Bönan. the Iron Age. Grave mounds are supposed to Around the Baltic Sea, some of them are Medieval, The Swedish National Heritage Boards own heritage farms. N 6731388 E 619851 represent the farmers in the region. The stone but they can also have been made later. The oldest website. www.lansstyrelsengavleborg.se In the end of the 18th century the noble man settings are believed to represent the hunters labyrinths lies around the Mediterranean Sea and www.gastrikland.com Culture and nature in Gävleborg county. Per Ennes built a stair and a wall at the spring. and fishermen in the same area. You could are dated to the Bronze Age. Tourism in Gästrikland. A site that presents all County administrative board’s site about To stay healthy people drink water from the probably find the remains of the farm in the information about Gästrikland fishing, cultural environment, culture spring at Trinity. This custom was common during vicinity. During the burial, there were rituals reservations and nature reservations in the Medieval times. You could also wash yourself in preformed in order to send the deceased safely www.jarnriket.com county. the water. It was important that the water runs to to the kingdom of death. After the ancestor Iron history and tourism in Gästrikland. A site the north because that is where the evil lives. The was buried, the people of the family or from the about the iron land of Gästrikland and a lot of www.gavle.se belief of the evil in the north is documented in farm could call upon him or her once a year or places to visit. Practical info about the Gävle area. Information the Bible, Jeremiah 1:4. During the 18th century, more, to ask for advice or just to keep up the site about the Gävle area; tourism, facilities etc. www.hembygdsforbund.x.se drinking from springs became increasingly connection to the forefathers. Cultural history and environment. A site about www.soderhamn.se popular. At Trinity, there were festivities at the all the history clubs in the county and how to Practical info about the Söderhamn area. spring with music and dancing. The custom was 8 5 The Brunn spring in Söderala visit their old beautiful history parks. Information site about the Söderhamn area; popular until the beginning of the 20th century, Sydväst om Håkviken, Marmen tourism, facilities etc. when Swedish people started to believe more in 11 www.aventyrarna.se N 6787382 E 608143 8 The Hjortsta spring in Hög medical science than in the old health springs. Adventure and fishing. A site about adventure www.hudiksvall.se From Åsak in Hög a small road leads to the south. At Trinity people drank water from the spring and fishing tours in Gästrikland. Practical info about the Hudiksvall area. You have to go across a field to the west 11 Bronze Age stone cairns to cure illness and keep healthy. This tradition Information site about the Hudiksvall area; N 6849409 E 604945 Vålmyrknallen www.furuvik.se may have its roots in the Iron Age. People took tourism, facilities etc. 2 Just north of Mellanfjärden in Jättendal Entertainment and adventure. seven sips or washed themselves in the water. At Trinity people in Hjortsta and in Hög parish N 6872898 E 624355 A site with everything about the large zoo and www.nordanstig.se The spring was cleaned and decorated before drank the water from this spring to cure illness and theme park Furuvik outside Gävle. Practical info about the Nordanstig area. the drinking begun. It was very important that keep healthy. The spring is named after the village Large cairns from the Bronze Age. The cairns were Information site about the Nordanstig area; the water ran to the north because that was Hjortsta. The water is clear and very tasty. At the built to honour the death and to prevent them www.lansmuseetgavleborg.se tourism, facilities etc. where the evil lived. The week before bottom of the spring there are always four small from coming back. You also created a place for Art, cultural history, ancient sites and cultural Trinity, the spring was cleaned and bubbles. To get full effect from the water, you had regular conversations with your ancestors. The environment. The county museums own www.naturvardsverket.se decorated with pine branches. Over to drink seven sips and wash yourself in the water. cairns also worked as a territory marking for the website about things to see at the museum in Nature in Gävleborg county. Site about nature the spring, a crosshaped bow of It was important that the water runs to the north people who lived here. They lived on farms near Gävle and in the county. in Sweden. Advice about how to behave in a small birches was risen. On the because that was the home of the evil. The earliest the coast. The people worshipped the sun and the nature reservation www.halsinglandsmuseum.se Saturday evening at sunset, written tradition about this spring is from 1810. bronze metal. They went on long journeys to bring Cultural and coherent history in Hälsingland. The the drinking began, and It tells how women in the area regularly brought home the metal and had contacts with people far Hälsinglands museums website about what to see proceeded until midnight. home fresh water from the spring. away. 5 at the museum in Hudiksvall and in Hälsingland. Ancient natural sacred sites Gävleborg region, Sweden Tourism map

SUOMI NORGE

ROSIJSKAJA EESTI SVERIGE FEDERACIJA

DANMARK LATVIJA

he ancient cult place route in Gävleborg,LIETUVA Sweden,BIEŁARU hasŚ something T for everyone to enjoy. It offers exciting stories, beautiful places, thrilling archeological sites POLSKAand magnificent sceneries. We invite everyone, locals as well as visitors, to experience our route and our beautiful region. Similar travel guides about regions in Latvia as well as counties in Estonia are available. Mentioned guides will help not only discover new values of nature and culture, but also gain knowledge about the ancient traditions of nations around Baltic Sea. Welcome to explore your past.

Traditional festivals/celebrations in the region www.ancientsites.eu

Publisher: Prepared by: Länsmuseet Gävleborg, 2013 Karšu izdevniecība Jāņa sēta, Midsummer festival www.lansmuseetgavleborg.se www.kartes.lv Swedish Midsummer Eve Cover photo: © Arsty (Dreamstime.com) Pole rising, traditional dancing, singing and traditional costumes. Photo: Inga Blennå and Katarina Eriksson and are owned by Länsmuseet Gävleborg, Sweden; Every local heritage farm/outdoor museum in every parish has festivities © Ruslanchik, © B. Calkins (Dreamstime.com) on Midsummer Eve. Usually announced in the papers.

EUROPEAN UNION Valborg festival EUROPEAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND (spring celebration festival) INVESTING IN YOUR FUTURE April 30th The booklet has been developed within the scope of the project of the Central Baltic Sea region cross-border cooperation Bonfire, singing, celebrating spring. There are many different places programme INTERREG IV A 2007-2013 “Ancient Cult Sites – Common Identity of the Shore of the Baltic Sea. for bonfires, and they are usually announced in the papers. The content of the publication reflects the authors views and the Managing Authority cannot be held liable for the information published by the project partners.