Oxberg is a small village with a long history. For many, it is famous as the route of the cross-country ski race Vasaloppet, which has a checkpoint in the village. But what happens when the race week has come to an end and Oxberg’s 140 inhabitants go back to their normal lives? There are still some things to explore here.
A Short History of Oxberg
The first known mention of Oxberg dates back to the first half of the 16th century. The inhabitants of the small village did for centuries use shielings when handling their cattle. A shieling is a hut or collection of huts in a mountain region used for the summer pasture for the cattle.
Oxberg was not spared from the witch hunt in the 17th century. Out of nine people accused of witchcraft, two were executed here in 1669.
One of the most common occupations in the village during the 18th and 19th centuries was the making of reeds. The reed is one of the components when making a weaving loom. The reed production continued along with log driving on the river to be an important part of Oxberg long into the 20th century. The urbanization of the second half of the 20th century has, however, seen a large decline in the population of Oxberg, a village that once had over 500 inhabitants.
You can read more about Oxberg on their local web page here (Swedish) >>
Things to Do and See in Oxberg
Oxberg has a long history and there are both historical and cultural sights to enjoy. Then there is of course the great outdoors that is not far away.
Oxbergsgården
The railroad between Mora and Älvdalen was opened in the year 1900 and with it Oxberg got a railway station. The last passenger train stopped here did, however, do so as early as 1954. The railway is today mostly used for timber and the old station building is today Oxbergsgården. The building has been owned by the local heritage organization since 1965 and is used for both meetings and short time accommodation.
Vasaloppet
A checkpoint for Vasaloppet has been in Oxberg, with the exception of 1937-1962, since the start of Vasaloppet in 1922. The checkpoint is today a permanent building. For any cross-country skier, this could either be a nostalgic visit or a perfect spot to try parts of the race track.
Oxberg’s Chapel
The local chapel is one of the older buildings in the village and dates back to the 1720s.
Fishing in Österdalälven and Oxbergssjön
There are good fishing possibilities in Oxberg. Two possibilities are the river Österdalälven and the lake Oxbergssjön. Österdalälven offers both trout and grayling and Oxbergsjön has pike and perch for the lucky ones. Do remember to get the correct fishing permit.
Oxbergssjön also has the village’s only beach for swimming.
Vasaloppsleden
For the ones that do not wish to ski from Sälen to Mora, there is also the summer alternative to hike. Vasaloppsleden takes an alternative route but follows the route for skiing. The total distance from Sälen to Mora is around 90 kilometers, but there is the possibility of just doing a part of it.
How to get to Oxberg
- Flights: The closest airport is Mora–Siljan Airport (MXX) located 35 kilometers away. It connects the area with the Stockholm-Arlanda Airport (ARN) for connections around the globe.
- Car: Oxberg is located along a rural road between Mora and Sälen.
- Bus: Might be better to look at other options.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 336 kilometers (4 h 1 min)
- Gothenburg – 503 kilometers (6 h 8 min)
- Malmö – 721 kilometers (8 h 31 min)
- Linköping – 404 kilometers (5 h 9 min)
- Kiruna – 1117 kilometers (13 h 44 min)
Find out more about other destinations in Sweden by visiting our page Exploring Sweden
The chapel looks interesting, typical of Scandinavian religious buildings, high and narrow.