History

Tidernas Väg runs along a series of ridges, beginning in the south on an offshoot from the Enköping Ridge. It is thought that the history of the route can be traced back to the time around the birth of Christ, and some say even further.  Through the ages it has always been easier to move and transport goods on stone-free, dry land, such as on ridges.  The ridge that ran straight southwards towards Mälardalen and areas that, during the later period of the Iron Age, were more densely populated was the natural choice. During the Viking period goods, such as iron, furs and skins, were transported along this route to major markets and the predecessors to the oldest towns, in exchange for jewelry of bronze and semiprecious stones as well as spices and silk cloth.

During the Viking period, settlements were established at places where the ridge was cut through by the Dalälven river, such as at Österfärnebo, at the Storsjön lake in Årsunda and at the Bysjön lake in Ockelbo. Since then, during difficult periods in the Middle Ages and up to the present time, these settlements have continued to expand.

In the porch of the church in Årsunda there is one of the many runestones that stand along Tidernas Väg. There Is a second in Österfärnebo and a third in Ockelbo. The latter is particularly interesting as it shows two persons engaged in a board game. This runestone is, however, a copy of the original stone that was destroyed when the church was destroyed by fire in 1904.  Together, the three stones tell parts of the famous tale of Sigurd Fafnsbane – Sigurd the Dragon Killer. From Årsunda a trade route went to Birka in Lake Mälaren. Gästrikland’s largest Viking burial ground is here, in Årsunda.

As you drive along Tidernas Väg, you will certainly notice several old milestones. They are made of cast iron and stand on stable stone foundations. These milestones date back to the late 1700s and were erected following an instruction from King Gustav III ordering the emplacement of milestones along the county’s main roads. The instruction was executed by the then governor of Gävleborg County, Fredrick Adolf Ulrik Cronstedt, and it is his initials, FAUC and the date of emplacement, 1785, that can be seen on the milestones. The distance between milestones was to be a quarter of  a Swedish mile. However, if you check with your car’s odometer you will find that the distance is longer than the planned 2,5 kilometres. This is because the old Swedish mile was just over 600m longer than the present-day mile.

During the Viking Age, Gästrikland was an important source of iron ore, which was eagerly sought after by Viking traders. In 1374, mining of iron ore was begun in Torsåker. There are guided tours in n the mines at Sorberget. Sandviken is the centre for today’s “Iron Realm” and the home of the international Sandvik concern that has 36 000 employees in130 countries.