Edsbyn is a locality in Ovanåker Municipality in the historical province of Hälsingland. It is today the seat of Ovanåker Municipality in Gävleborg County. Around 4300 people call this home, but that is not all. This is also one of the main locations in Sweden for bandy, a winter sport with origins in England that few outside the Nordics and Russia probably have heard about or seen.
A Short History of Edsbyn
Edsbyn has a long history as a farming settlement. The first known mention dates back to the second half of the 13th century. This was originally a part of the Alfta Parish, with its church village some distance to the east. With the village of Edsbyn developing in the 16th century, there was a demand for local church services. It took until the 1620s before a chapel was built closer to Edsbyn. It was built in Ovanåker and the area became a new parish in 1639. Voxna Parish was extracted from Ovanåker in 1775.
Like many areas in Sweden, Edsbyn experienced significant changes during the industrialization period in the 19th century. Industries such as forestry, timber, and sawmilling became essential to the local economy. Local manufacturing has earlier included skis and other wooden products. Some of the companies here today have followed this tradition, such as the company sharing its name with the locality and manufacturing office furniture today.
Things to Do and See
There are several places of interest in and around Edsbyn. For any bandy enthusiast, there is also the Svenska Fönster Arena, the first indoor arena for the sport in Sweden. For others, there is a cozy small center with a few shops and restaurants and then there is the river Voxnan that flows through the locality. Along the river, there is also a small hydroelectric power station.
Hembygdsgården Mårtes
Hembygdsgården Mårtes is the home of the local heritage society. In addition, it acts as an open-air museum with several historical buildings from the area. In total, there are 28 historical buildings here, including Storbyggningen with its origins in the 17th century.
Öjeparken
Öjeparken is a park in the center of Edsbyn. This is where the small stream Öjebäcken runs, but also where you will find a scene. The scene and the park are used for many events, especially during the summer months.
Edsbyns IF at Svenska Fönster Arena
Edsbyns IF is the local bandy team. It was founded in 1909 and is one of the classical teams in Elitserien, the top-tier league for bandy in Sweden. They are 13-times Swedish champions with their last win in 2022.
The team has its home at Svenska Fönster Arena, an indoor arena specifically for bandy. It was inaugurated in 2003 and is the first indoor arena within the sport of bandy.
How to Get to Edsbyn
- Flights: Mora–Siljan Airport (MXX) is 111 kilometers to the west and Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) 266 kilometers to the southeast.
- Car: Edsbyn is near Road 301 between Alfta and Furudal.
- Bus: Buses from X-trafik connect Edsbyn with the surrounding region.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 300 kilometers (3 h 26 min)
- Gothenburg – 563 kilometers (7 h 11 min)
- Malmö – 782 kilometers (9 h 23 min)
- Linköping – 495 kilometers (5 h 28 min)
- Kiruna – 1053 kilometers (12 h 55 min)
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