Forsmark – Ironworks, English Park and Coastal Location

Forsmark combines impressive industrial history, an unusual park landscape and nature in the coastal setting of northern Roslagen. The village is located in Östhammar Municipality, around 20 km north of the town of Östhammar on Route 76. Forsmark therefore has a distinct character of its own: the focus is on Forsmarks bruk, its historic surroundings and the many ways to discover history and landscape from different perspectives.

Forsmarks bruk: History of a Crown Ironworks

Forsmarks bruk was founded in the 16th century as a Crown ironworks. Ore from the Dannemora mines was used to produce pig iron. The site was also the first ironworks in Uppland to be designated a historic monument. Its austere, well-ordered layout and well-preserved buildings form an almost ideal ironworks setting that remains very well preserved to this day.

Anyone interested in craftsmanship, historical working environments and the development of industrial sites will find a particularly tangible way to engage with history here. The individual buildings and the orderly layout can be experienced as a cohesive historical setting, without reducing Forsmark to a single structure.

English Park and Cemetery

The English Park at Forsmarks bruk was created at the end of the 18th century. Its design includes statues, temples, buildings, winding paths and water, as well as inviting areas and small spaces. This creates a park with many different viewpoints and an atmosphere of its own. The brochure “Fotojakt i Engelska parken” offers a self-guided search for all the pictures in the English Park.

Forsmark Cemetery is also part of the historical understanding of the area. It was designed and subsequently laid out according to a plan from 1882. Several gravestones bear valuable inscriptions documenting occupations connected with the ironworks, including bailiff, forester, stable master, iron turner and foreman. In total, there are 35 graves classified as being of particular cultural-historical value, as well as 30 others considered to be of cultural-historical value.

Routes, Nature and Self-Guided Discoveries

Bruksrundan is a route with nine stops through the ironworks villages and churches of Uppland. Forsmark Church is one of these stops. Those who prefer a set sequence of topics can follow this route. The brochure “Gör din egen bruksvandring”, on the other hand, opens up a self-guided tour through Forsmarks bruk and its history at your own pace.

Ekopark Forsmark contains historic remains such as an old mill, a slag heap, a charcoal-burning mound and an old cottage. The lime-rich soil also creates unusually colourful forests; in nature, you can discover orchids and unusual fungi. In summer, the visitor centre near Forsmarks bruk offers free guided tours and further activities about nuclear power and energy. This allows you to complement your stay according to your interests with industrial history, nature observation or a guided activity.

The Right Accommodation for Planning Your Trip

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Forsmark, it is worth deciding in advance what you would like to focus on. If you are primarily interested in the historic site, the English Park and the cemetery, these topics can shape the cultural part of your trip. Bruksrundan and the self-guided brochures appeal to travellers who like to structure their discoveries independently. Those wishing to add nature experiences will find another clear focus in Ekopark Forsmark and its distinctive vegetation.

If you would like to compare other destinations, you can also find Gimo, Alunda, Österbybruk, Östhammar, Öregrund, Norrskedika and Gräsö.

To the higher-level travel overview: Östhammar.