Hejde: Church, Picture Stone and Special Discoveries

Hejde combines a medieval church, unusual traces of cultural history and a distinctive landscape. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Hejde can therefore get to know the area from different perspectives: with a fixed church event, with stone evidence from different eras and with a detour to an old pine-dominated swamp forest.

Hejde kyrka as a cultural centre

Hejde kyrka is a white-plastered medieval church. It was built in the middle of the 13th century; a new choir was added in the 14th century. This means that several medieval construction phases can be identified in a single building. For families and other travellers who prefer discovering history in concrete places rather than abstract dates, the church provides an illustrative starting point for exploring Hejde.

A recurring event is the Hejde Mass, celebrated every Sunday at 12:30 p.m. in Hejde kyrka. This time can be taken into account when planning your trip if you would like to combine your stay with a fixed church event. The runic inscription on a stone in the church also reports a church fire during a procession in 1492. The wording of the inscription makes this event a special historical detail of the church.

Picture Stone GP 179 and Traces of Earlier Times

The picture stone GP 179 is particularly impressive. It was found in 1936 beneath the floor of the church sacristy and stands by the northern cemetery wall near the choir. The surviving motifs include a sailing ship, two men and a horse. The picture stone is dated to the period from the 8th to the 11th century.

The motifs invite closer observation and encourage visitors to plan their trip around more than just major attractions. A sailing ship, human figures and a horse provide different topics of conversation for children and adults, without requiring the stone to be assigned a single interpretation. Together with the church, they create a cultural focal point that can be included in a more leisurely day of discovery in Hejde.

Water-Powered Sawmill, Treasure Find and Landscape

Another notable site is the Sigsarve water-powered sawmill in Hejde. It is one of only two water-powered sawmills remaining on Gotland that are in working order at their original location. The Sigsarve silver treasure from the parish of Hejde weighs more than 6 kilograms and is considered one of the largest treasure finds ever discovered. Both subjects broaden the picture of Hejde to include industrial history and archaeology.

The landscape also adds its own distinctive character. Hajdkvie skog is an old swamp forest dominated by pine trees. Those who value combining cultural impressions with nature observation when choosing accommodation will find a range of themes for planning their days in Hejde. The holiday apartment serves as a starting point for your individual travel plans, without every day of your holiday having to follow the same rhythm.

More Places for Planning Your Trip

If you would like to compare other places in addition to Hejde, you can also visit Sanda, Fårösund, Vamlingbo, Hejdeby, Tingstäde, Lojsta, Stånga and Dalhem. This allows you to base your choice of accommodation on the places and topics that particularly interest you during your stay.

To the higher-level travel overview: Gotland.