Johannisfors is today a small village in Östhammar Municipality. This was, however, once a company town and an ironworks. It is in the historical province of Uppland, in an area that was once Forsmark Parish. Its industrial past might be long gone, but there a few historical sights have survived.
A Short History of Johannisfors
Johannisfors was a company town and an ironworks founded in 1622 was initially only in operation for about a decade. Manufacturing resumed here in the mid-18th century under the same owner as of the company town Forsmark, John Jennings. It Mr. Jennings who gave Johannisfors its name.
The production mainly consisted of farming equipment, but the production saw declining profits and was closed down again in 1808. However, the closure only lasted for about a century before production commenced. The ironworks was in operation until the 1880s and completely closed in 1893. The production in Johannisfors was then replaced by a sawmill and a pulp factory. The factory did not survive longer than to 1932 when a fire destroyed the buildings. Most signs of the industrial past have since disappeared. Johannisfors is today a small village with a few residents.
Things to Do and See
Johannisfors might be a village most people just pass by. There is, however, a long industrial history and signs of it might be visible for the ones looking a bit deeper.
The Stone Arch Bridge
The most significant sight and human-made structure in Johannisfors is probably the old stone arch bridge across the Forsmark River. It is located on private lands, making it hard to explore. The easiest access is from the main road so that you don’t need to trespass. The bridge has the initials J.J. for the industrial father John Jennings and dates back to the 18th century. It has four arches and is 120 meters long.
How to Get to Johannisfors
- Flights: The closest major airport is Stockholm-Arlanda Airport, 106 kilometers away with both domestic and international flights.
- Car: Johannisfors is located along road 76 between Gävle and Östhammar.
- Bus: Local and regional UL buses connect Johannisfors with the surrounding region.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 142 kilometers (2 h 1 min)
- Gothenburg – 542 kilometers (6 h 20 min)
- Malmö – 751 kilometers (7 h 49 min)
- Linköping – 338 kilometers (3 h 55 min)
- Kiruna – 1158 kilometers (13 h 17 min)
Find out more about other destinations in Sweden by visiting our page Exploring Sweden
