Edsbro: Industrial History and Church Architecture

Edsbro offers several distinct reasons to visit: industrial history, historic church architecture, and outdoor activities. The differences between the places and activities make this choice more specific than a general description of the destination.

Edsbro’s Industrial History

Edsbro masugn is the only surviving blast furnace in Stockholm County. Together with the industrial buildings and the works street with its former workers’ homes, Edsbro bruk forms a well-preserved industrial settlement. This means the focus is not solely on a technical structure: the works street and former workers’ homes complement the blast furnace by showing the settlement’s layout. The contrast between the individual furnace and the wider complex highlights two scales of industrial history—the technical structure and the relationship between industrial buildings and homes.

Church Architecture with Distinctly Dated Layers

Several structural and decorative features help date Edsbro Church. Its oldest parts include the 13th-century nave and the 14th-century sacristy on the north side. The biblical frescoes date from 1625. These different dates help distinguish the building’s history from its later painted decoration, rather than assigning everything to a single period of origin.

A gatehouse also survives in the churchyard wall; before the Reformation, it was used as a pulpit. This former purpose gives the structure a particular connection to how the church grounds were used. The nave, sacristy, paintings, and gatehouse each represent different aspects of architectural and religious history.

A Ring Wall with a Probable Date

Lundboborg has an almost completely preserved dry-stone ring wall, around 210 metres long. The site was probably built during the Migration Period, between 400 and 550 AD. Unlike the dated structural elements of Edsbro Church, this archaeological dating is explicitly probable and spans a longer period. This presents two different ways of placing historic sites in time: specific century dates for parts of the church and a probable date for Lundboborg.

Activities and Practical Information

Edsbro aktivitetspark has a pump track and a skate ramp for scooters and skateboards. The park is open 24 hours a day, and parking is available right next to it. Edsbro is also part of “Tillgängligt landskap,” an offering of places that are easy to visit with a wheelchair or pushchair.

For public transport, the nearest listed SL stop for Edsbro is also Edsbro. If you are travelling with SL, check the timetable in advance. The buildings at Hembygdsgården Åsavallen are open for guided tours during events. If you plan to visit, check the event dates.

Trails and Swimming Guidance

A partly usable section of Banvallarna, which is not maintained by the municipality, runs from Rimbo via Edsbro and Skebobruk towards Hallstavik. Cycling, hiking, and horse riding are permitted and welcome on Banvallarna. As the section’s usability may vary over time, check current trail conditions before setting out.

As of 20 July 2026, the municipal swimming guidance did not recommend against swimming in Kyrksjön. At the same time, contamination had been detected in the area, so caution may be warranted. Check the latest guidance before swimming.

Discover more destinations: Arholma, Spillarsboda, Norrtälje, Rimbo, Vätö, Skebobruk, Yxlan, Grisslehamn.

Go to the main travel overview: Norrtälje.