Skebokvarn is a small locality in the province of Södermanland in the eastern part of Sweden. It is a part of Flen Municipality in Södermanland County and has a population of around 200 inhabitants. This is a former train junction whose population started to decline when the trains ceased to stop there. Today it is the location along the shores of Lake Båven that attracts both visitors as well as one of the largest populations of ospreys in Europe.
A Short History of Skebokvarn
Skebokvarn was originally a mill and it was first mentioned as far back as the 16th century. It was at the time a part of the estate Schedewij. However, everything changed with the arrival of the railway in 1862. Skebokvarn became a railway junction between two crossing railways and a settlement grew around the station.
The first half of the 20th century saw the establishment of smaller manufacturing industries. One of the most prominent of these was the dairy that was built in 1923. The peak was reached in 1950 when the population reached 478 inhabitants. This became the turning point for the locality and the start of the decline for Skebokvarn. The railway station was soon gone and so was one of the two railway lines passing through the locality. The population started to plummet and was soon down to the levels of today with around 200 inhabitants.
Things to Do and See
This is the countryside of Södermanland and many visitors come here because of the easy access to nature. Lake Båven is probably the main attraction in this part of the province. Who would not be impressed to see the provincial animal, the osprey?
Lake Båven
Lake Båven is the largest lake that is completely within the province of Södermanland. The lake has several islands and narrow bays. Båven offers the possibility for swimming, fishing, and other lake activities. Remember that you need a permit to fish in the lake.
The lake is also famous for its population of ospreys. This is the provincial animal of Södermanland and a symbol for the region. Bird watchers might also be able to see the black-throated loon and if you look under the surface there might be the rare sight of a Wels catfish.
The Old Dairy
The old dairy was built in 1923 and is one of the buildings in Skebokvarn that really stands out. The dairy production has been decommissioned, but the building does today house a canoe center. The center is run by the Swedish sprint canoer Mikael Berger who won the gold medal in K-2 10.000 meters in the 1985 World Championships in Mechelen, Belgium.
How to Get to Skebokvarn
- Flights: The closest airport is Stockholm Skavsta Airport, located only 47 kilometers to the south. From here there are a few international flights to other cities in Europe. Sweden’s main international airport, Stockholm Arlanda Airport, is 142 kilometers away.
- Car: Skebokvarn is located along road 57 between Flen and Sparreholm.
- Bus: Bus 589 from Sörmlandstrafiken stops here on its route between Flen and Gnesta.
- Train: There are no trains stopping here even though the railway passes through the area. Instead, the closest train station can be found in nearby Flen.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 106 kilometers (1 h 26 min)
- Gothenburg – 389 kilometers (4 h 37 min)
- Malmö – 533 kilometers (6 h 3 min)
- Linköping – 120 kilometers (1 h 24 min)
- Kiruna – 1305 kilometers (15 h 37 min)
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