Åkers Styckebruk is a locality in Strängnäs Municipality in eastern Sweden. It lies in Södermanland County, in what was once the seat of Åkers Parish, but developed into an early industrial company town already in the 16th century. The production of artillery canons has been one of the main driving forces in the development of what is today a locality with around 3000 inhabitants.
A Short History of Åkers Styckebruk
Canon manufacturing was established here in 1580 by King Karl IX. The casting of canons was the main focus here for centuries. The iron ore for the production eventually came from the nearby mine of Skottvångs Gruva, as well as from the island of Utö. It was first in the 1840s that canon production was joined by more civilian products.
The ironworks here is still in business and is the main employer in the locality and one of the largest private employers within the municipality of Strängnäs. The development of the settlement was sped up further by the opening of the railway in 1895. The railway has since been moved a bit further north to Läggesta, but the locality has survived.
Things to Do and See
The center of Åkers Styckebruk has a small park, a pizzeria, and a small grocery store. It is also here that you find Folkets Hus, or the local cultural center. Nearby stands one of the many canons that you can see within the locality. Many more canons can be found around the old ironworks.
Just to the west of the center, past the old railway is the huge manufacturing complex of Åkers Sweden AB. The modern plant is next to the historical company town. In the historical area, you will find the local industrial museum as well as the former company town manor and other historical buildings of the ironworks. The former blast furnace is today home to the company town’s archives while there is also the riding house and the main offices to discover.
How to Get to Åkers Styckebruk
- Flights: The nearest airport is Stockholm Skavsta Airport (NYO) 83 kilometers to the south. Sweden’s largest airport, Stockholm Arlanda (ARN), is 107 kilometers to the northeast.
- Car: Åkers Styckebruk lies along Road E20 between Södertälje and Strängnäs.
- Bus: Buses from Sörmlandstrafiken connect Åkers Styckebruk with the surrounding area.
- Train: There is a train station in nearby Läggesta.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 70 kilometers (50 min)
- Gothenburg – 412 kilometers (4 h 30 min)
- Malmö – 576 kilometers (6 h 10 min)
- Linköping – 163 kilometers (2 h 10 min)
- Kiruna – 1265 kilometers (13 h 50 min)
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