Skånela, Uppland – Exploring Sweden
Skånela is a former parish as well as a small settlement surrounding the medieval parish church. It is in the historical province of Uppland, in an area that is today part of Sigtuna Municipality in Stockholm County.
This was the original home of Skånela IF, a handball club that has found a new home in Märsta. The team was founded here in 1949 and while the men’s team has played one season in the top-tier league, the women’s team has played over 30 and became Swedish champions in 1992.
A Short History of Skånela
Skånela Parish had its origins in the Middle Ages and its church dates back to the 12th century. The church was for centuries the center of the parish, a kind of local government up until the Swedish Municipal Reform of 1862. That was when the parish’s responsibilities were split between the new civic government of Skånela Municipality and the church congregation. The municipality was in 1952 incorporated into Märsta Municipality, which in turn became a part of Sigtuna Municipality in 1971. The church congregation is since 1998 a part of Norrsunda Congregation.
Things to Do and See
This is an area rich in ancient remains. There are at least 35 burial fields and 25 rune inscriptions within the parish. At least four of these rune stones are around the church. Some even in the church wall. The most impressive of these is the large U295 that tells of Viger who requested the stone to be carved in memory of his son and Fastlög who did the same for his brother Fulluge. There is also the nearby manor (or castle) of Skånelaholm that can be found on the shores of Lake Fysingen.
Skånela Church
The parish church is a gray stone church dating back to the 12th century, probably built in the 1160s. Many alterations later and the church is today a part of Norrsunda Congregation within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden.
How to Get to Skånela
- Flights: Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) is 9 kilometers to the north.
- Car: Skånela is on countryside roads north of Stockholm.
- Bus: Buses from SL connect Skånela with the surrounding region.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 35 kilometers (40 min)
- Gothenburg – 499 kilometers (5 h 16 min)
- Malmö – 643 kilometers (6 h 42 min)
- Linköping – 232 kilometers (2 h 41 min)
- Kiruna – 1206 kilometers (14 h 59 min)
Find out more about other destinations in Sweden by visiting our page Exploring Sweden
