Akkavare – History and Landscape at Akkavara

Akkavare combines the setting of a hillside village with an unusually rich local history. The village lies on the southeastern slope of Mount Akkavara, six kilometres north of Arvidsjaur on Route 45. Those planning a trip focused on nature, regional history and quiet discoveries will find a clear, distinctive character here rather than an interchangeable holiday setting.

Landscape and Special Places Around Akkavare

Five kilometres northeast of Akkavare lies the Hedvallen Nature Reserve. The landscape there is shaped by old natural forest, small ponds and marshland. In the Akkavare area, Hedvallen is also a summer settlement and a calf-marking site for the Östra Kikkejaur sameby. This combination of natural environment and regional way of life makes the area particularly interesting for visitors who want to experience not only the landscape but also the cultural character of the north.

A prominent destination in the local landscape is the air-observation tower on the mountain above Akkavare. It was built during the war and later remodelled and extended. There is a shelter and a fireplace at the tower. When planning your day, this historic site can therefore be considered as a separate stop alongside the natural areas and local history, without combining the various destinations into a single route.

Discover the Local History

Akkavare’s history dates back to the settlement of Pehr Christjersson Brännare, who came to Akkavare as its first settler in 1801. Brännar-Pehrs Storstuga was completed in 1835. The original schoolhouse also tells the story of the village’s development: it was used as a school from 1910 to 1936. Akkavare’s prayer house was built in 1957–1958 and is now a modernised community hall. Its former function and present-day use are among the different historical layers that shape the village.

Further traces can be found in the history of work and supply. A mill was built in Akkavare in 1868; it was decommissioned in 1928 and later moved to Lake Dyras. It now stands there as a hunting and fishing cabin. In 1934, a two-kilometre water pipeline was built in Akkavare from a cold spring on the mountain; it remained in operation until 1980. A long stone wall bears witness to the work carried out to create usable farmland. Film history also has a place here: scenes for Kay Pollack’s 2004 film “Såsom i Himmelen” were shot in Akkavare.

Transport, Work and Remembrance

The present-day location on Route 45 can also be understood in its historical context. Akkavare gained its road connection during the construction of the road between Arvidsjaur and Moskosel from 1903 to 1907. The village gained a railway connection when the Inlandsbanan was built in the 1930s. In 1939, a mobile sawmill was put into operation in Akkavare; in 1947, a permanent Lundbergs sawmill facility was completed next to the station.

The local history also includes painful memories. On 28 March 1956, a railcar and a train collided near Akkavare; 16 people lost their lives. This part of the past adds a serious historical dimension to the visible buildings, technical facilities and traces in the landscape.

Which Location Suits Your Trip?

When looking for a holiday apartment, you can consider Akkavare itself or its proximity to Arvidsjaur. Akkavare is suitable for a trip centred on a small village, historical details and the landscape around Akkavara. Its location on Route 45 provides a clear reference point for the journey.

For further local discoveries, you can find Arvidsjaur, Abborrträsk, Moskosel and Glommersträsk here.

Back to the overarching travel overview: Arvidsjaur.