Edsbruk – Church and Industrial History on Lake Storsjön
Accommodation in Edsbruk
Edsbruk brings together a church by Lake Storsjön, traces of the industrial history of Eds Bruk, and trails through the surrounding area. This offers different ways to plan a trip: church art and historic buildings, the history of the ironworks and paper mill, or a hike along one of the routes described here. If you are looking for hotels for a cultural and hiking trip, these themes offer concrete points of reference for considering Edsbruk as a destination.
Church and Historic Furnishings
Västra Eds kyrka is located by Lake Storsjön in Edsbruk and was inaugurated in 1863. The ruins of its medieval predecessor stand right next to the present-day church, placing two distinct periods of construction side by side. The present church is designed in the Neo-Renaissance style, and its interior is largely preserved.
The furnishings include a baptismal font made of Gotland limestone dating from 1240 and a 15th-century reliquary depicting Saint Catherine of Alexandria. Both pieces were transferred from the old church. The grave crosses at Västra Eds kyrka also point to a connection with local industrial history: it is thought that they were made at Eds Bruk. Walloons who came to Ed in the 17th century are considered possible makers. This attribution remains a historical assumption.
Traces of Eds Bruk
The Eds Bruk ironworks was founded in 1670. The mill’s paper factory operated from 1889 to 1991. The protected ruins of Gamlebruk are also part of the industrial history: they include the foundations of a blast furnace and a forge near Eds Bruk. The old roasting house, west of the mill, bears the date 1839 and is well preserved.
The cultural-historical context also encompasses several phases of industrial development. The H97 Uknadalen area, designated as being of national cultural-historical interest, includes the industrial setting of Edsbruk, with remains of the older ironworks and the later pulp mill. These buildings and ruins offer different points of reference for distinguishing between earlier and more recent traces of production.
Hiking: A Loop or a Route Between Villages
The Edsbruk-Xrundan is an approximately 3.4-kilometre loop that runs clockwise. Its starting point is by the information boards to the right of the grocery store. Along the way, asphalt alternates with gravel paths, grassy trails, and wooden bridges. This variety of surfaces is one of the loop’s defining features.
The Kyrkvägen, by contrast, is a 6.5-kilometre hiking trail between the village of Vråka and Edsbruk. It crosses the Edsån, whose waters once powered the ironworks in Ed, and ends at the avenue leading to Edsbruk. There are therefore two different types of route to choose from: the shorter clockwise loop and the longer trail between Vråka and Edsbruk. Groups can book guided tours of the Kyrkvägen with knowledgeable guides, including coffee breaks in Vråka or Helleberg.
Lake Storsjön and Seasonal Culture
Edsbruk offers a hiking trail by Lake Storsjön and viewpoints. A bridge over the lake’s outlet in Edsbruk has a pointed stone arch that blends in with the surrounding industrial setting. Outside Edsbruk, the Hex wind shelter was inaugurated on the slope overlooking Lake Storsjön.
In summer, Konst & Fika presents art exhibitions in the old watermill. A 2022 description also names Konst & Fika as a seasonally open café in Edsbruk, serving cinnamon buns, ice cream, and freshly baked waffles.
Discover more destinations: Totebo, Västervik, Överum, Blankaholm, Ankarsrum, Gamleby, Loftahammar, Hjorted.
Go to the main travel overview: Västervik.
