Not far north from Uppsala is the locality of Björklinge with around 3.400 inhabitants. This is the central part of the province of Uppland with many old parishes dating back to the Middle Ages and Björklinge is no exception.
The locality has today a small grocery store, a fire station, two schools, and the church. It is located along road 600, which was previously the E4 before the new route was completed in 2007. The only larger manufacturer still active in Björklinge is Nyby Sawmill.
A Short History of Björklinge
The current locality has its origins in the church village of Björklinge Parish. The church here dates back to the 14th century and a time when the name was instead written Birklinge. The 14 runestones found in the parish do, however, tell of a much longer history.
The development from a church village to a locality began during the first half of the 19th century. It was the land reforms of 1827 that meant new development for Björklinge with the establishment of several new workshops and new people moving in. The three villages of Nyby, Snugga and Tibble were all eventually incorporated within the growing locality.
Things to Do and See
With the church in its center and nature all around, it might not sound like much. However, Björklinge’s long history always provides new sights to explore.
Björklinge Church
The church dates back to the 14th century and has four small towers in its corners. The clock tower is located on a hill across the road and was built in 1927.
Along its southern wall, there are four runestones. These are just a few of the many runestones that are within the old parish.
Björkvallen
Björkvallen is the local sports center. Here you will find football pitches, the ice rink, and an indoor sports hall. This is also a location for the local midsummer celebrations.
Björklinge Recreational Area
This is an area for outdoor activities to the east of the center. It is on the shores of Lake Långsjön, where it is also possible to find the beach Sandviksbadet if anyone looks for somewhere to swim. The beach has designated space for beach sports and other facilities that might be needed.
Within the area, there are also a playground, spots for barbeques, paths for jogging and running, and a disc golf course.
Björklinge Local Heritage Museum
The Local Heritage Museum is since 1985 in Prästgården, the old clergy house. It has sporadic opening hours but has the intention of showcasing the history of the area and its people.
Statue of Gås-Anders
Outside the church, there is a statue of a man known as Gås-Anders. He was a famous violin player in Uppland during the 19th century. His real name was Anders Ljungqvist and he was born in 1815 in Julkil Parish. He later moved to Björklinge and stayed here until his death in 1896.
How to Get to Björklinge
- Flights: The closest airport is Stockholm-Arlanda Airport, 58 kilometers away with both domestic and international flights.
- Car: Björklinge is close to the E4 north of Uppsala.
- Bus: Local and regional buses from UL connect Björklinge with the surrounding region.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 95 kilometers (1h 6min)
- Gothenburg – 559 kilometers (5h 50min)
- Malmö – 708 kilometers (7h 20min)
- Linköping – 290 kilometers (3h 16min)
- Kiruna – 1149 kilometers (12h 59min)
Find out more about other destinations in Sweden by visiting our page Exploring Sweden
