Stallarholmen
Encyclopedia
Stallarholmen is a locality situated in Strängnäs Municipality
, Södermanland County
, Sweden
with 1,487 inhabitants in 2005.
Stallarholmen, located on Lake Mälaren is situated partly on the mainland and partly on the island of Selaön
, Swedens largest freshwater island. The island and the mainland are connected via a bridge built in the mid 1900s.
The etymology of the name Stallarholmen may be related to stables ("stall") and small islands ("holme"). An article in Strengnäs Tidning from 1927 says the word "holme" refers to the isthmus that juts out from the mainland. Another suggested etymology relates to King Charles XI of Sweden
stabling his horses and exchanging carriages in Stallarholmen during his regular trips to Kungsör
. Although out of the way in summer, during winter travel over ice made this a convenient stop. However, Charles XI was king in the late 1600s, while there is reference to the name Stallarholmen in the letters of Gustav Vasa from the 1540s and 1550s, making this etymology somewhat dubious.
The land around Stallarholmen, both on the mainland and on Selaön, consists largely of clay. Brickworks were a primary industry in the area until the late 1970's. Selaön was home to several brickworks, including Nasby, Fiskarudden, Valla and Husby. On the mainland were several more,
including Sundby and Räfsnäs. All but Husby Brickyard, the largest and last to close, are now demolished. The former Husby premises now house several small businesses and a marina.
Stallarholmen surrounding area contains 25 runestones, most of them on Selaön. This is the highest concentration in Södermanland.
A major recurring event in Stallarholmen is the Viking Festival. This festival, which features viking style entertainers, craftsmen, drama and games attracts thousands of visitors each year. Since 2003 it has taken place on Selaön during the first weekend of July. In 2006 a newly carved runestone was raised at the location with the inscription "Stallarholmens Vikings raised this stone as a link between the past and the future".
Strängnäs Municipality
Strängnäs Municipality is a municipality in Södermanland County in eastern Sweden, located by Lake Mälaren. Its seat is located in the city of Strängnäs....
, Södermanland County
Södermanland County
Södermanland County is a county or län on the south east coast of Sweden. It borders the counties of Östergötland, Örebro, Västmanland, Uppsala, Stockholm and to the Baltic sea....
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
with 1,487 inhabitants in 2005.
Stallarholmen, located on Lake Mälaren is situated partly on the mainland and partly on the island of Selaön
Selaön
Selaön is the largest island in Mälaren, Sweden, and covers 91 km². It is located at Stallarholmen, east of Strängnäs, and it has about 3,000 permanent residents. It is connected by a bridge to the mainland. It is the largest island in any lake in Sweden....
, Swedens largest freshwater island. The island and the mainland are connected via a bridge built in the mid 1900s.
The etymology of the name Stallarholmen may be related to stables ("stall") and small islands ("holme"). An article in Strengnäs Tidning from 1927 says the word "holme" refers to the isthmus that juts out from the mainland. Another suggested etymology relates to King Charles XI of Sweden
Charles XI of Sweden
Charles XI also Carl, was King of Sweden from 1660 until his death, in a period in Swedish history known as the Swedish empire ....
stabling his horses and exchanging carriages in Stallarholmen during his regular trips to Kungsör
Kungsör
Kungsör is a locality and the seat of Kungsör Municipality in Västmanland County, Sweden with 5,610 inhabitants in 2005.- References :...
. Although out of the way in summer, during winter travel over ice made this a convenient stop. However, Charles XI was king in the late 1600s, while there is reference to the name Stallarholmen in the letters of Gustav Vasa from the 1540s and 1550s, making this etymology somewhat dubious.
The land around Stallarholmen, both on the mainland and on Selaön, consists largely of clay. Brickworks were a primary industry in the area until the late 1970's. Selaön was home to several brickworks, including Nasby, Fiskarudden, Valla and Husby. On the mainland were several more,
including Sundby and Räfsnäs. All but Husby Brickyard, the largest and last to close, are now demolished. The former Husby premises now house several small businesses and a marina.
Stallarholmen surrounding area contains 25 runestones, most of them on Selaön. This is the highest concentration in Södermanland.
A major recurring event in Stallarholmen is the Viking Festival. This festival, which features viking style entertainers, craftsmen, drama and games attracts thousands of visitors each year. Since 2003 it has taken place on Selaön during the first weekend of July. In 2006 a newly carved runestone was raised at the location with the inscription "Stallarholmens Vikings raised this stone as a link between the past and the future".