Svinnegarn is a small village in the historical province of Uppland in eastern Sweden. It is just south of the town of Enköping and is a part of Enköping Municipality in Uppsala County. In addition to the church dating back to the Middle Ages, around 60 inhabitants have Svinnegarn as their home.
A Short History of Svinnegarn
Svinnegarn and its church were once the center of the local parish. The parish itself has its origins in the Middle Ages and its church is believed to have been inaugurated in the early years of the 13th century. The parish existed until the Swedish municipal reform of 1862 when its operations were split between the local government of Svinnegarn Municipality and the church congregation. The municipality was in 1952 incorporated into Åsunda Municipality, which in turn became a part of Enköping Municipality in 1971. The church congregation is since 2010 a part of the Tillinge och Södra Åsunda Congregation.
Things to Do and See
A church and a few runestones, that is what you will find in Svinnegarn. But you will also find easy access to Lake Mälaren, Sweden’s third largest lake, and a lot of countryside.
Svinnegarn Church
Svinnegarn Church dates back to the early years of the 13th century. It is a stone church that has seen several alterations since and even was raised after a fire in 1602. The church is today a part of Tillinge och Södra Åsunda Congregation within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden.
Runestone U778
Inside the church porch, there is a runestone built into the wall. This is U778 that tells of Tjälve and Holmlög who raised the stone after their son Banke, a son that had traveled to the east.
Runestone U779
Runestone U779 stands outside the church and is missing the top part. This one was also once a building block of the church. It tells about Järund who raised this stone after his son Jarl.
Svinnegarns Källa
Svinnegarns Källa is a natural spring whose water is believed to have healing powers. The spring has attracted visitors for several centuries and is mentioned in written sources dating back to the 16th century.
How to Get to Svinnegarn
- Flights: Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) is 85 kilometers to the east and Stockholm Västerås Airport (VST) is 26 kilometers to the west.
- Car: Svinnegarn is along Road 55 between Enköping and Strängnäs.
- Bus: Buses from UL connect Svinnegarn with the surrounding region.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 84 kilometers (58 min)
- Gothenburg – 407 kilometers (4 h 48 min)
- Malmö – 606 kilometers (6 h 47 min)
- Linköping – 193 kilometers (2 h 28 min)
- Kiruna – 1221 kilometers (14 h 34 min)
Find out more about other destinations in Sweden by visiting our page Exploring Sweden
