Hökhuvud is a small village in the historical province of Uppland. The name translates to the “Hawk Head”. The village consists of the settlement that has grown up around the local parish church. Today a part of Östhammar Municipality in Uppsala County, Hökhuvud has a population of around 100 people.
A Short History of Hökhuvud
The parish with the same name has its origins in the Middle Ages. The area does, however, have signs of much earlier settlements. The name “Hawk Head” is believed to come from the nearby burial mound of Torer Hök. Who was Torer Hök? According to the legend, this was a man from the Viking Age. However, the rest is a mystery.
In regards to Hökhuvud Parish, it was for a short time in the 16th century home to a small silver mine. The parish was in 1862 split between the church and the civil administration when Hökhuvud Municipality was established. In 1952, the municipality merged into Frösåker Municipality and later in 1967 it became a part of Östhammar Municipality.
Things to Do and See
This is the countryside of Uppland and as with many places in Sweden nature is never far away. The many farms in the vicinity provide open fields, but there are also plenty of forests and some do have their hidden treasures.
Hökhuvud Church
The stone church was inaugurated already in the 15th century. It has seen a few additions and reconstructions during the centuries since. The external clock tower dates back to 1771.
Roddarne Grufor
A bit to the west of the church. towards the homestead Betlehem, there are seven old mining holes, the Roddarne Mines. The mining area measures 180 times 110 meters and is according to old maps first mentioned around the mid-18th century.
Torer Höks Hög
To the east of the church is the burial mound Torer Höks Hög. This is the mound that is believed to have been the origin for the name of the village.
How to Get to Hökhuvud
- Flights: The closest major airport is Stockholm-Arlanda Airport, 86 kilometers away with both domestic and international flights.
- Car: Hökhuvud is along Road 288 between Gimo and Östhammar.
- Bus: Local and regional UL buses connect Hökhuvud with the surrounding region.
- Train: There is no nearby train station. The closest one can be found in Örbyhus, 37 kilometers away.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 123 kilometers (1 h 25 min)
- Gothenburg – 510 kilometers (6 h 2 min)
- Malmö – 731 kilometers (7 h 44 min)
- Linköping – 318 kilometers (3 h 27 min)
- Kiruna – 1165 kilometers (13 h 27 min)
Find out more about other destinations in Sweden by visiting our page Exploring Sweden
