Ås: Church, Cultural Landscape and Storsjön

In Ås, church heritage and an agricultural cultural landscape sit alongside different connections to Storsjön. Buildings, farmsteads and views each offer a distinct perspective. When planning your stay, you can explore the area’s history, rural architecture and landscape in turn. The dates of construction also offer a point of comparison: the church was built in 1875–1877, while the homes on several farms date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Church and Cultural Heritage

The present stone Ås Church was built in 1875–1877. It stands high above Storsjön, beside the built-up area of the village. The church and its churchyard are protected as ecclesiastical heritage under Sweden’s Cultural Heritage Act (KML). Ås is also part of Storsjöbygden, an area of national interest for cultural heritage conservation. This brings together two different levels of protection: the KML protection applies to the church and churchyard, while Storsjöbygden places Ås in a broader cultural-historical context. Its construction dates place the church in the late 19th century. Several farms in Ås still have homes dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This extends the view of rural architecture beyond the church.

Agricultural Landscape and Farmsteads

Parts of Ås still retain the character of an agricultural landscape. From there, views extend across the cultivated land to Storsjön. The village settlements and farmsteads in Gärde-Backen-Dille are well preserved. Barns, hayracks, granaries and hay sheds are important features of the cultural landscape. These agricultural buildings complement the homes as a distinct part of the area’s farming heritage. The cultural-historical perspective therefore extends from the protected church ensemble to the settlements and farmsteads, and on to the buildings of the agricultural landscape.

Storsjön, Fröjas and the Summer Course Week

The settings around Storsjön also differ: Ås Church sits high above the lake, while Ås båthamn is down by the shore. From the harbour, there are views of the Oviksfjällen mountains. The elevated church site and the lakeside perspective with views of the mountains offer contrasting vantage points.

Fröjas, Oasen i Ås, is a café, nursery and fair-trade shop. The nearest bus stop to Fröjas is “Rösta vägskäl, Ås”. Check the current bus timetable for your journey. This gives you a specific stop name to use when planning, without assuming a journey time or connection.

Birka’s summer course week is an annual tradition and takes place in the week after Midsummer. For anyone interested in taking a course, this is a useful reference point when planning a trip. The specific courses may change, so check the current programme in advance. This lets you take the dates into account without assuming any particular course selection or additional programme.

Discover more destinations: Laxviken, Dvärsätt, Åkersjön, Offerdal, Krokom, Nälden, Kaxås, Föllinge.

Go to the main travel overview: Krokom.