Össeby kyrkoruin

Össeby kyrkoruin is a 13th-century church ruin whose stone walls stand on a hilltop overlooking Lake Garnsvik. The site is surrounded by ancient agricultural landscapes and historical routes, with a bell tower added in 1988.

The church was built in the 13th century as a parish church and abandoned in 1837 due to deterioration. A lightning strike in 1856 caused further damage, and restoration work began in the 1970s.

The churchyard holds a red sandstone runestone dating to the 12th century with the inscription 'Here lies Huskarl', marking an early Christian burial site. The location shows how runestones were incorporated into the church complex, reflecting the connection between pre-Christian and Christian traditions.

The site is accessible year-round and provides 100 seating spaces from May to September for outdoor services and gatherings. The hilltop location offers good views of the surrounding landscape and is relatively easy to reach.

During restoration work in 1971, twelve runestone fragments were discovered built into the church walls, originating from an earlier period. These findings reveal that building stones from older runestones were reused during the original construction.

Location: Vallentuna Municipality

GPS coordinates: 59.55806,18.24167

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:11