Hejde: Church History and Historical Finds

If you are looking for a hotel in Hejde, the focus of your trip may influence your choice of location. Hejde Church and the picture stone GP 179 associated with it represent architectural and archaeological history. The Sigsarve water saw and the silver hoard from Hejde parish add to these historical themes; Hajdkvie skog offers a landscape perspective.

Hejde Church and its architectural history

The whitewashed Hejde Church is a medieval church built in the mid-13th century. It received a new chancel in the 14th century. The two dates distinguish the construction of the church from the later building phase and give the general description “medieval” a specific timeframe. If you are particularly interested in architectural history, you can consider the church and chancel as separate periods rather than treating them as a single construction phase.

The Hejdemässa is a specific point of reference for planning your week: it is celebrated every Sunday at 12:30 p.m. in Hejde Church. Before your trip, check whether the time changes seasonally.

Picture stone and inscription

Picture stone GP 179 is dated to the period from the 8th to the 11th century—a span, not a single year. It was found in 1936 beneath the floor of the sacristy of Hejde Church and now stands by the northern cemetery wall near the chancel. The surviving images include a sailing ship, two men and a horse. The stone’s dating is therefore considerably earlier than the stated construction phases of the church and the later chancel. Its findspot and current location add two specific stages in its history to its chronological context.

A runic inscription on a stone in Hejde Church reports that a church fire occurred during a procession in 1492. The picture stone features surviving images, while the inscription recounts an event. Together, they provide different historical references to the church: a visual depiction on the one hand and the account of an event on the other.

Water saw and silver hoard

The Sigsarve water saw in Hejde is one of only two water saws preserved on Gotland that remain operational at their original location. Its special significance lies in both its condition and its connection to the site. Here, preserved technology is the focus, while the Sigsarve silver hoard represents an archaeological find.

The Sigsarve silver hoard from Hejde parish weighs more than six kilograms and is one of the largest discovered hoard finds. Its weight and its ranking in comparison with other discovered finds offer two different measures of its significance. Together with the water saw, it gives a different picture of historical evidence than the church’s construction phases or the picture stone’s motifs.

Hajdkvie skog and different travel interests

Hajdkvie skog is an old swamp forest dominated by pine trees. The description combines three aspects: the forest’s age, its predominant tree species and its forest type. As a nature-related subject, this landscape perspective differs from the architectural and archaeological histories. If you are interested in nature as well as historical connections, the swamp forest offers a distinct focus.

The time references can also be distinguished: the church and the picture stone point to historical periods, while the Hejdemässa takes place at a specific time and day of the week. For your planning, an architectural history is therefore relevant in a different way from a recurring event. Which perspective matters to you depends on whether you would like to plan your trip around history, nature or a particular weekly schedule.

Discover more destinations: Stånga, Kappelshamn, Fleringe, Ljugarn, Katthammarsvik, Havdhem, Dalhem, När.

For the broader travel overview: Gotland.