Varpsund - Sweden

At Varpsund, 15 km from Sigtuna, a rune stone very nearly three metres high was erected in the 11th century in memory of Gunlev, who died in Ingvar's expedition.
The stone could be seen far and wide.
The site was chosen with great car, a high point of land beside a narrow channel.  It was a place where two routes met, both the waterway from Lake Malaren and on up towards Ekoin and Uppsala, and the
over-load road past the royal estate of Hatuna and Skoklosterlandet.  There may have been a ferry berth right where the stone stands.
This was a place passed by many travellers.

There are at least another 24 stones in and around Malardalen honouring men who followed Ingvar east never to return,  One stone tells us that"They went manfully far for gold" they "gave the eagle food" and "they died in the south in Sarkland" (the Norsemen's name for the Middle East, Arabia or Muslim countries)

A picture emerges of a spirited Viking expedition to the East , with wealth as the goal, but not without risk.

Activities Varsund

-    Walk the Uppland trail from Ekillabadet to Varpsund stone

More information:    www.vikinguppsala'se

Ideas for local visits\

-    Skokloster castle
-    Aberg museum
-    Parks in Enkoping
-    Enkoping museum
-     Rickeby and Boglosa rock art

         www.visituppland.se