Valbo: Churches, Iron Age and Trails

Church and Iron Age history

Valbo Church stands on Gästrikland’s oldest church site. Under Chapter 4 of the Swedish Cultural Heritage Act, it is protected as a church heritage site. The cemetery also has a special historical distinction: it is Gästrikland’s oldest church cemetery. It contains four runestones by the missionary bishop Asmund Karesson, who was active from 1020 to 1050. The church and cemetery thus represent different aspects of local history: the protected church site and the runestones with their specific historical attribution.

On both sides of the cemetery are bloomery sites for iron production dating to the Iron Age. Åbygravfältet comprises 15 graves from the Late Iron Age, dated to 400–1050 AD. A set of scales found there and dated to the Viking Age indicates that the people who lived there at the time engaged in trade. The grave finds and the scales also offer a glimpse of archaeological traces and possible economic activities of the people who lived there at the time.

Another cultural point of interest can be found at Valbo hembygdsgård: it has wall and ceiling paintings from the late 18th century. They complement the church and archaeological themes with historic interior paintings and can be considered as a cultural focus in their own right when planning your trip.

Parks, trails and water

Mackmyra brukspark is part of the historic ironworks setting of Mackmyra bruk. It was laid out in the 1820s in the English landscape style. Visitors can stroll along the paths and enjoy food they have brought with them in the green surroundings. This makes it easy to combine a walk with a picnic using your own food. If you would rather focus on outdoor exercise than historic sites, this offers a different way to spend your stay.

Hälsans stig in Valbo is six kilometres long. The distance can help you plan a walking route. For cyclists, a path runs along Valbovägen from Valbo to the centre of Gävle, giving you a specific destination for a bike ride. Mackmyra Golf is also in Valbo and is another local point of interest for travellers who would like to include golf in their plans.

The trail and ski-track area at Valbo sportcentrum has a shelter, parking, a bathing area and changing rooms. As these facilities may change, it is best to confirm what is available before your visit. Valbobadet has an indoor and an outdoor pool for bathing and swimming. The swimming pool can be booked by individuals and clubs. The indoor and outdoor pools offer two different ways to include swimming in your travel plans.

Local produce

Diléns Gourmandis Saluhall in Valbo offers locally produced delicacies. This adds a culinary dimension to the history and outdoor activities. If local produce is part of what you look for in a trip, you can include the market hall as a point of interest in its own right. When choosing your accommodation, it helps to think in advance about whether cultural history, exercise, swimming or local produce will shape your stay the most.

Discover more destinations: Gävle, Norrsundet, Forsbacka, Hamrånge, Axmar, Bergby, Hedesunda.

Return to the main travel overview: Gävle.