Frösön, Jämtland – Exploring Sweden

Frösön has received its name from the Norse Vanir God Freyr, also known as “Frö”. In other words, this is the island of Freyr. It is located in the middle of Sweden’s fifth largest lake, Storsjön, and with the city of Östersund right across on the other side of a narrow strait. This gives Frösön the possibility to offer sights and activities in abundance.

A Short History

Frösön was the central locality in Jämtland for nearly a millennium and the annual thing took place at Bynäset. A thing was the meeting of the governing assembly in the Scandinavian countries, this is where the lawmakers of Jämtland met and made their decisions. The thing was known locally as Jamtamot.

There are several signs from the past on the island, especially from the hillfort Mjälleborgen, a rune stone, and several Viking graveyards.

The inhabitants of Frösön have seen the island change from being a part of Norway to being governed by Copenhagen and finally conquered by Sweden during the Torstenson War. The area became a part of Sweden after the Treaty of Brömsebro in 1645 together with the provinces of Härjedalen, Gotland, Saaremaa, and Halland.

The church on the island was constructed already in the 12th century, but there are ruins from an even older chapel.

Things to Do and See

Outdoor activities are, of course, limitless around Frösön. Such activities include fishing, hiking, and skiing, just to mention a few. Below we list just a few of all the activities and sights that are available.

Frösötornet

Frösötornet is a watchtower located at Östberget. For a small fee, you will get a view out over the lake Storsjön, the city of Östersund, and the surrounding mountain landscape.

Frösö Runestone

Not far from the bridge across to Östersund you will find the only runestone discovered in Jämtland. It is the northernmost runestone in the world and dates back to the 1050s. It tells the story of Östman, a man who is said to have built a bridge over the strait and who Christianized Jämtland.

Mjällestigen

Mjällestigen is a 2.5-kilometer-long walking path that will take you up on the hill Öneberget. Here you can see the spot of an old hillfort that once looked out over the landscape.

Bynäset

Once the site for the annual thing, Bynäset is now a popular outdoor area. On a peninsula in the lake Storsjön, there is the possibility to enjoy the beaches and nature. A hike around the peninsula is about 7 kilometers.

Gustavsbergsbacken

Alpine skiing right next to the center of the locality? Gustavsbergsbacken offers 3 slopes with a lift for each one. Gustavsbergsbacken is the largest with an altitude difference of 100 meters and a slope that stretches 480 meters. Then there are Silverling and Ladängen for the smaller kids. Silverling has an altitude difference of 20 meters for a slope that is about 130 meters long.

Östersund

Remember that the city of Östersund is located directly across the strait, just a short walk across the bridge. Here you find shopping, restaurants and even more sights.

How to get to Frösön

• Flights: Closest airport is Åre Östersund Airport (OSD) located 11 km away from the center. It connects the area with the Stockholm-Arlanda Airport (ARN) for connections around the globe.
• Car: Frösön is located along the E45 between Svenstavik and Strömsund and along the E14 betwen Sundsvall and Trondheim.
• Train: There are regular trains to nearby Östersund from Stockholm, Göteborg, Sundsvall, and Åre as well as a few more.
• Bus: There are both domestic and regional buses connecting Strömsund with many parts of Sweden as well as the surrounding area.

The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:

• Stockholm – 565 kilometers (6 h 25 min)
• Gothenburg – 786 kilometers (9 h 55 min)
• Malmö – 1024 kilometers (12 h 9 min)
• Linköping – 760 kilometers (8 h 23 min)
• Kiruna – 819 kilometers (10 h)

Find out more about other destinations in Sweden by visiting our page Exploring Sweden