Hejde Church and picture stone GP 179 give Hejde a distinct historical character. Other highlights include a working water-powered sawmill at its original site, a large silver hoard from the parish, and a natural attraction in Hajdkvie skog. These different traces lead from medieval church architecture and archaeological finds to technological history and woodland landscapes. This makes it possible to explore Hejde from a range of perspectives rather than reducing the area to a single sight.
Church and Historical Accounts
Hejde Church is a medieval church with white plastered walls. It was built in the mid-13th century, and a new choir was added in the 14th century. These dates distinguish the construction of the church from the later addition of the choir. The Hejde Mass is celebrated in the church every Sunday at 12:30 p.m. If you plan your trip around this service, check in advance whether the time is adjusted seasonally.
A runic inscription on a stone in Hejde Church recounts a church fire during a procession in 1492. This adds a recorded historical event to the building’s history: the year refers to the reported fire, not to a construction phase.
Picture Stone GP 179
Picture stone GP 179 from Hejde Church was found beneath the floor of the sacristy in 1936. Today it stands by the northern cemetery wall, near the choir. The surviving motifs include a sailing ship; fragments also depict two men and a horse. The stone is dated to the period from the 8th to the 11th century. Its dating therefore predates the construction of the medieval church.
Three different historical reference points can be compared here: the dating of the picture stone, the church’s construction history from the 13th to the 14th century, and the event reported to have taken place in 1492. The picture stone, church architecture and runic inscription each tell the past in a different way. This distinction makes Hejde appealing to travelers interested in separating archaeological dates, building history and recorded events.
Technological Heritage and Nature
The Sigsarve water-powered sawmill in Hejde is one of only two water-powered sawmills preserved on Gotland that are still working at their original sites. Both its working condition and original location are part of what makes it special. The Sigsarve silver hoard also comes from the parish of Hejde. It weighs more than six kilograms and is among the largest discovered hoards. The sawmill and the hoard appeal to different interests: preserved technology on the one hand, and the history of archaeological finds on the other.
Hajdkvie skog offers a different focus: it is an old forest dominated by pine and characterized as a swamp forest. In contrast to the architectural and archaeological themes, the focus here is on forest type and the predominant tree species. This complements the historical perspective with a clearly distinct natural aspect.
If you are especially interested in building history and historical accounts, the church, picture stone and runic inscription take center stage; technological history, archaeological finds and nature offer additional perspectives. Consider which of these themes you would like to shape your stay before choosing accommodation.
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For the main travel overview: Gotland.
