Botkyrka can be explored through a range of themes: sacred history, the history of Swedish banknotes, and trails through cultural and natural landscapes. A simple question can help you choose what to experience: would you rather explore historic sites, crafts and exhibitions, or walking and hiking trails? The different offerings have distinct focuses, ranging from a trail with meditation spots to a hiking route of just over seven kilometres.
Botkyrka Church and the Pilgrim Trail
The roots of Botkyrka Church date back to the 12th century. It is protected under Chapter 4 of the Swedish Heritage Conservation Act and is located in an area of national interest for heritage conservation. It has also become a well-known pilgrimage church. This gives the site a connection between its long church history and the history of pilgrimage.
There are four runestones by the church, each with different circumstances affecting how they were found and can be viewed: one lies inaccessible beneath the floor of the church porch. A stone with a damaged inscription stands by the south-eastern exterior wall; another, partly visible, lies beneath the south-western corner of the tower. A fragment is built high into the northern exterior wall near the sacristy. Visitors interested in the stones should therefore not assume that all four can be viewed equally.
The St Botvid Pilgrim Trail runs between Salem Church and Botkyrka Church. There are six meditation spots along the trail. This offers a different way to connect with the church’s history than visiting the church alone; no trail length or walking time is specified.
Paper history, guided tours and independent discoveries
At Tumba Bruk Museum, the exhibitions and surroundings tell the story of both Swedish banknotes and the people who lived and worked at Tumba Paper Mill. The site includes a museum, a café and a park. The museum offers general guided tours of the mill grounds, as well as tours of the paper workshop. Visitors can also make their own paper there.
You can also explore the museum independently; free audio guides are available to download. This means there are different ways to engage with the site: take a guided tour, see how paper is made, or explore on your own with an audio guide. The Multicultural Centre offers exhibitions, lectures, a library and an open workshop.
Hågelby: architectural history and animals
Hågelby Farm was built between 1911 and 1922 by Lars Magnus Ericsson, founder of Ericsson. The period in which it was built gives the site a clear historical connection. For a different kind of visit, Hågelby 4H Farm is a small urban farm with horses, sheep, goats, miniature pigs, chickens, rabbits, cats and other small animals. Visitors can also take part in courses and camps there.
Walking trails and landscapes
Aspen Nature Trail is just over seven kilometres long and runs around the southern part of Lake Aspen. Lida has a total of 35 kilometres of exercise trails, as well as three mountain biking trails for exploring trail riding. These descriptions refer to different offerings: a named hiking route on the one hand, and a network of trails alongside mountain biking routes on the other. No difficulty level or walking time is specified for these trails.
Near Hågelby-Skrävsta, there are two signposted walking trails: Skrävsta Trail and Saltberg Trail. The landscape there has largely been preserved, including archaeological sites and agricultural land. In northern Botkyrka, three cultural trails with signs provide information about the local cultural landscapes in Norsborg, Hallunda and Fittja. Those wishing to focus on natural and cultural landscapes can therefore choose between specific routes and signposted themed trails.
The Mälarskogen Nature Reserve is also located in Botkyrka Municipality. It can be reached on foot from the nearby Hallunda and Norsborg metro stations, or by SL buses nearby. These access points provide practical directions to the nature reserve, without implying a connection to the other trails described here.
Discover more destinations: Tumba, Grödinge.
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