We visit Axmar mill, a hidden gem

When travelling along the Baltic Sea coast at the height of Uppland and Gästrikland, you find old mills behind almost every bush. I like old stone mills, especially the more stately varieties, so I took the opportunity to stop by some of them. In this post I will tell you more about our visit to Axmar Mill. During the same trip we also visited Lövstabruk and Gimo manor, you can read more about these two beautiful places. here.

Axmar mill

The mill community around Axmar can be found on the coast between Söderhamn and Gävle. The mill dates back 350 years, but the smelter in its current state was built in 1861. Today the mill is Gästrikland's only cultural reserve and is run by the non-profit association Hyttan, which has a rich programme of activities all year round.

The old smelter is of course the centrepiece of the mill, but there is also a lot to see and do. In addition to the smelter, which is now used for exhibitions, concerts and theatre, there is a scenic English park to stroll around. Around the park there are beautiful streams and small buildings to look at. For example, there is a cute little gazebo that is occasionally used for weddings and christenings. In the centre of the park is also the avenue that once led up to Axmar Castle. The castle was built in the 1860s by the von Schinkel family who owned the mill at the time. Unfortunately, it was only allowed to stand for just over a hundred years and was demolished during the demolition hysteria of the 1970s. Today it looks a bit depressing with its beautiful avenue leading up to a lone balustrade. However, the castle will be given a new lease of life when artist Leif Boltner builds an iron castle on the site where the old castle once stood. It will be exciting to see the result of this art project.

After a walk in the English park, you may feel the need for a coffee, and there is of course a farmhouse café. The café is located in the old orangery and offers great coffee in a cosy environment. In addition to coffee, they also have tapas evenings and prawn feasts during the summer.

If you are really hungry, you can walk past the smelter down to the water and visit the Axmar Pier, a popular restaurant right down in the small harbour. Given that the restaurant is located in the middle of nowhere, we probably did not have high expectations and had not booked a table. But how wrong we were. When we arrived at our accommodation, they told us to call directly to Axmar Brygga to see if they could squeeze us in and we were probably lucky to get a table. It was crowded here and the pier's parking spaces and boat berths were almost fully occupied so we were not as far out in the wilderness as we first thought. Apparently, the restaurant has been around for over 20 years and has always been a popular destination. We had a really nice evening with incredible views of the water and a beautiful sunbathing area.

As well as pitches and moorings, there are two types of accommodation to choose from. We chose the super cosy Axmar bruksbod B&B, a small bed and breakfast located in one of the old workers' houses in the centre of the farming community. The property is run by a couple who have put their heart and soul into providing a pleasant experience for visitors. For example, Ulrike, one of the owners, is a bread baker of sorts and bakes fantastic bread to enjoy for breakfast. Next to the property there is also a small farm shop selling local products from the area such as honey, jams and marmalades as well as some homeware.

If you want a more unusual accommodation, you can stay in Iron-Brita's hut. Iron-Brita's real name was Brita Behm and she ran the mill with an iron hand from the end of the 17th century until her death in the mid-18th century. In 2021, a work of art in her memory was built on the estate. The artwork looks like a ball of leaves and can be booked as accommodation for one night.

It's great to have such a vibrant mill environment. In addition to what I have mentioned above, there are also hiking trails, cycling trails and kayak hire for a more active visit. There is also a small gallery where you can look at and buy art and crafts from local artists. If you want to read more about Axmar Bruk and what's going on right now, you can read more on Föreningen Hyttan's website. here.