Lillhärad is a small settlement in the historical province of Västmanland. It and its church were once the center of the local parish, but it is today a part of Västerås Municipality in Västmanland County. This is the countryside just a short distance to the northwest from the city of Västerås, an area covered by farmland and smaller forests.
A Short History of Lillhärad
Lillhärad Parish has its origins in the Middle Ages and its first church is believed to have been built in the 13th century. The first church did, however, not survive a fire in 1840 and was completely burned down with only a few inventories saved by the parish inhabitants. Construction of the new church began first in 1848 and it was inaugurated the year after.
The parish was in operation until the Swedish municipal reform of 1862. This was when its operations were split between the local government of Lillhärad Municipality and the church congregation. The municipality was in 1952 incorporated into Dingtuna Municipality, which in turn became a part of Västerås Municipality in 1967. The church congregation is since 2006 a part of the Dingtuna-Lillhärad Congregation.
Things to Do and See
The small church is most likely the most prominent building in a surrounding landscape made up of farmland and smaller forests. Visitors can explore the countryside roads in the area both by hiking and cycling, all depending on their preferences.
Lillhärad Church
The parish church dates back to 1849 and replaced the former church from the Middle Ages that burned down in 1840. This is a white stone church with an external wooden clock tower. The graveyard was moved in the 1870s and is located a few hundred meters to the north. The church is today a part of Dingtuna-Lillhärad Congregation within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden.
How to Get to Lillhärad
- Flights: Stockholm Västerås Airport (VST) is 19 kilometers to the east.
- Car: Lillhärad is along Road 66 roads just to the northwest of Västerås.
- Bus: Buses from VL connect Lillhärad with the surrounding region with stops a short distance away along Road 66.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 120 kilometers (1 h 23 min)
- Gothenburg – 377 kilometers (4 h 20 min)
- Malmö – 596 kilometers (6 h 19 min)
- Linköping – 184 kilometers (2 h 21 min)
- Kiruna – 1207 kilometers (14 h 47 min)
Find out more about other destinations in Sweden by visiting our page Exploring Sweden
