Welcome to Ekerö
The Islands of Culture with two Unesco World Heritage sites – Birka on the Island of Björkö
with Hovgården on the Island of Adelsö and the Royal Domain of Drottningholm.
Between the two world heritage sites – from the Viking era up to the Swedish 18th century
– a great cultural landscape is situated. Th ose seeking exciting activities and adventure of their
own will fi nd them here. We have a little something for everyone, regardless of age or area of interest.

SIGHTS

LOVÖ
Half across the Nockeby Bridge you will catch sight of Drottningholm, the first World Heritage site of the Community of Ekerö. Next, passing straight through the 18th century Royal Domain of Drottningholm, you will find yourself on the Lovö countryside, once the financial condition of the Royal Palace and its glittering court life. The people of Lovö have lived off the land for 4000 years. The oldest archaeological find, however, is more than 5000 years old. That is why, to say the least, Lovö is a worthy entrance to The Islands of Culture.

World Heritage Site the Royal Domain of Drottningholm including the Palace, Theatre, the Chinese Pavilion and gardens.

Drottningholm Palace After the first palace on the site was destroyed by fire the construction began in 1662. The dowager Queen Hedvig Eleonora commissioned the project and the architect was Nicodemus Tessin the elder. The palace is currently the residence of the Swedish Royal family. Open all year round.

The Chinese Pavilion is one of the world’s best-preserved rococo environments with oriental elements. The building was completed in 1769 and features a blend of East Indian and European objects.

Drottningholms Slottsteater was built in 1766 and is the world’s oldest preserved theatre with the original stage and stage machinery still in use.
 
Museum de Vries features the world’s largest collection of Adriaen de Vries bronze sculptures from the early 17th century.

Evert Lundquist’s studio The studio of the artist Evert Lundquist (1904-1994) shown in the same condition as when he left it.

Lovö Church A lot of people connected to Drottningholm palace are entombed here. There are several rune-stones outside this State demesne church.

The folklore museum, Hogsta gård, has a main building from the 18th century. Features a storehouse, a bake house and a smithy probably from the 17th century.

FÄRINGSÖ
The Färingsö landscape consists of old agricultural districts and villages along with medieval churches. Svartsjö, the hunting seat of Fredric the Ist – a milestone in the Swedish history of architecture – is situated alongside the ruins of the old Svartsjö Castle. The one-time royal hunting grounds offer pleasant countryside walks. The water filled stone quarry of Stenhamra is both thrilling and beautiful and the stonecutter village nearby is an unusually well preserved industrial environ-ment from the turn of the 20th century.

Svartsjö palace Sweden’s foremost rococo palace. A royal hunting seat from the 1730’s designed by the architect Carl Hårleman. Well worth seeing is the lush park, the baroque pond and Svartsjöviken, a bay with unique bird life. Guided tours of the castle and the park on request.

Färingsö Hembygdsgård, Röbacka Folklore museum located in an old farm with a cafeteria open in the summer.

Stone cutter, Stenhamra Grand stone quarry situated in an extraordinarily beautiful area. The quarry now consists of two lakes beautifully interspersed between large rocks.

Sånga-Säby Kurs & Konferens Scandinavia’s first ecologically certified hotel and restaurant, certified by KRAV (active member of IFOAM). You will find exclusive hotel rooms built in environmentally approved material.

Färentuna church State demesne church with a great tower to the east. The church has a significant collection of wood sculptures from the 15th century.

Hilleshög church Uppland’s second smallest church with a medivial wood sculpture of Saint Birgitta. Sweden’s smallest church organ from 1773 and an antependium dating from the 15th century.

Sånga church Features the original door from the 12th century together with mural paintings from the 15th century. Sweden’s oldest landscape painting can be enjoyed in this beautiful church.

Skå church Church village with a school building used by four generations. The church is located near Färingsö’s largest grave-field.

Eldgarnsö Nature reserve located on a beautiful island with a rich plant life, including mistletoe.

GÄLLSTAÖ
In the Middle Ages Gällstaö was a central place and the government of that time gathered here for many an important meeting. Surrounded by ancient oaks, probably dating from this period, and 20th century cottages modern dwelling houses have been constructed.

Hantverksstallet Handicrafts and art are for sale in the shop, set at Jungfrusunds Marina. Gallery. Boat landing for guests and Jungfrusund Restaurant in the area. 

EKERÖ
The Bridge of Tappström leads to the Community of Ekerö’s most densely populated area with modern private houses and a shopping centre designed by architect Sir Ralph Erskine. Close to the Ekerö Center we find the manor house of Ekebyhov, from the 17th century, with its complementary buildings and walks with old trees. However, you need to go further out on the Island of Ekerö to get to know the cultivated land and the original landscape of the island with its mansions and estates of which some have become small hotels and restaurants.

Ekerö church In the church there is a 12th century grave stone with runes in Latin telling us this is Ingeborg Ermundsdotter’s resting place.

Ekebyhovs manor house One of Europe’s oldest wooden castles, built by Field Marshall Carl Gustav Wrangel in the mid 1670s. The surrounding area features an exceptionally beautiful park with a remarkable plant life alongside a beech tree forest. Guided tours are offered. Cultural events and art gallery. Restaurant and café.

Ekerö Centre Cultural centre, shops, restaurants and residential blocks.
Concept and architecture signed Sir Ralph Erskine.

Fantans sacrificial site One of three mythical sacrificial sites in the Stockholm area.

Rosenhills Garden and Café Country store and garden café. Organic agriculture – you can pick your own fruit together with berries, herbs and vegetables. Apple orchard and juice production. Flea market. Activities for the young ones.

Rastaholms Restaurant A lovely Inn from 1932 situated on a Lake Mälaren one building islet. There is also a restaurant, a youth hostel, a guest harbour and regular tours for Birka on the Island of Björkö.

Skytteholm activities, golf, conferences Skytteholms Herrgård, located on a cape in Lake Mälaren, is a 17th century manor house built on order of Johan Skytte. In the park there is a number of sculptures by Carl Milles.

MUNSÖ
The scenery with a couple of large estates and farms pertaining to them is a common picture of the Island of Munsö. The medieval parish church, one of Mälardalen’s three round churches dating from the 12th century, was possibly put up as a refuge and defence by the powerful archbishops who owned Bona, the islands largest estate situated close by the church.

Munsö church One of Sweden’s five round churches with a defence tower and a six-cornered chancel.

Olle Nordberg’s Studio Museum “Meet Lake Mälaren Island’s own Chagall surrounded by angels, farmers and lonely hearts!” A studio museum showing nearly 150 oil paintings, reliefs and sculptures from a career of 50 years.

Bertil Ifwer’s Museum, Solvik From this unique collection of everyday utensils and magazines displayed in eight rooms, you will get a good glimpse of local Swedish history.

Väsby Hage, Nature Reserve Väsby Hage is one of the rarest best-protected meadows in the Stockholm region.

HELGÖ
On Helgö magnificent archaeological finds have been discovered and an Indian Buddha figure dating from the 6th century indicates that an international trading junction was situated here, some hundred of years prior to the foundation of Birka.

Helgöboplatsen The ancient remains of Helgö tell the tale of the so-called Helgö Society. Archaeologists started excavations in the area in 1954 and found dwellings dating back to the 3rd century together with a workshop area that has gained international attention. They found, among other artefacts, a Buddha figure from North India and a Coptic ladle from Egypt, both dated to the 6th century. In other words, the Helgö Society is older than that of Birka on the Island Björkö.

Kaggeholms slott A characteristic small rococo castle. Currently it serves as a conference facility. Kaggeholm’s Folkhögskola (folk high-school) is located close by the castle.

ADELSÖ
You have to catch a ferry to get to the Island of Adelsö. Today it is an island a bit remote perhaps, but far back in time it was a central place. In the Viking Age the king resided at Hovgården and within sight, across the water on the Island of Björkö, the important commercial town Birka was situated. In the Middle Ages the church was built in addition to Alsnö Hus where King Magnus Ladulås and the Nobiles Regni arrived at important decisions.

World Heritage Sites Birka on the Island of Björkö and Hovgården on the Island of Adelsö.
 
Hovgården on Adelsö was the location of the royal estate of the Viking Age. From here the king of the Swedes governed Birka until the end of the 10th century when the Viking city on Björkö was abandoned.
Still, Hovgården on Adelsö continued to play an important political role throughout the late middle ages. Built on the very same spot as the royal estate of the Viking Age was the medieval castle of Alsnö Hus – today however, a ruin. The nobility was established here in 1280. In the summertime there are daily boat tours between Hovgården and Birka.

Adelsö kyrka Dating back to the 12th century. Both the interior and the exterior give the church an ascetic impression. The area was a state demesne during the Birka period and the Middle Ages.  
       
Uppgården Hembygdsmuseum Folklore museum located nearby the World Heritage site at Hovgården on Adelsö. There is also a bake house, café and a herb garden.
 
BJÖRKÖ
A boat from Adelsö , Ekerö and/or Stockholm City will take you to Björkö. Based on the fact that one of the most important trading centres was situated at this very place, it is no wonder that archaeological finds have been discovered here for several hundred years. Together with the Hovgården area on Adelsö, Birka is the second World Heritage Site of the Community of Ekerö – The Islands of Culture.

World Heritage Sites Birka on the Island of Björkö and Hovgården on the Island of Adelsö.

Birka on Björkö is one of Sweden’s most famous ancient remains. Along with Hovgården on Adelsö it is registered on the Unesco´s World Heritage list. For two hundred years Birka was a thriving community, an important power centre and a trading junction. One can observe traces from the Viking Age in thousands of the gravesites, the stronghold, the city ramparts and “Svarta jorden” (the Black Soil). There is a museum, a restaurant/café and a guest harbour.

Ansgarskapellet Björkö The chapel was built 1929–1930 to honour the memory of the Nordic apostle Ansgar.