Husby is a small village in the historical province of Uppland and it was once a part of the Vendel Parish. The village has around 60 inhabitants and today it belongs to Tierp Municipality in Uppsala County. It is famous for its large burial mound Ottarshögen.
A Short History of Husby
Husby and the surrounding region within the Vendel Parish are known for the many Iron Age remains. The findings around the church in the nearby village of Hovgårdsberg eventually resulted in the naming of the Vendel Period, a period in Swedish history. The period is the predecessor to the Viking Age.
The first known written mention of Husby dates back to 1312, that is about 800 years after the creation of the village’s most prominent landmark.
Things to Do and See
The forests and fields are for many an attraction in themselves. Nature is never far away and so is the case with Ottarshögen. The large burial mound is an impressive sight in a village where there are not many competing attractions. On the list of activities, there are also the local heritage organisation and the local gas station.
Ottarshögen
Ottarshögen, or the Ottar’s Mound, is a large burial mound right next to the main road that runs through the village. This is the most prominent sight here and something that is hard to miss when driving by. It is six meters high and 37 meters in diameter. According to the legend this is the final resting place for King Ottar Vendelkråka. Ottar, or Ohthere, is believed to have lived in the 6th century during the Swedish Vendel Period. He should have taken part in many battles against both Geats and Danes. Many sources mention these battles. for example the Old English poem Beowulf mentions Ottar and his brother Onela as the offspring of Ongentheow.
How to Get to Husby
- Flights: The closest major airport is Stockholm-Arlanda Airport, 73 kilometers away with both domestic and international flights.
- Car: Björklinge is close to the E4, between Uppsala and Gävle.
- Bus: Local and regional UL buses connect Husby with the surrounding region.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 110 kilometers (1 h 10 min)
- Gothenburg – 496 kilometers (6 h 7 min)
- Malmö – 723 kilometers (7 h 44 min)
- Linköping – 305 kilometers (3 h 18 min)
- Kiruna – 1135 kilometers (12 h 59 min)
Find out more about other destinations in Sweden by visiting our page Exploring Sweden
