Back to Sweden: Gammalstad

July 21 was a day of driving, from south of Hetta, Finland, to Lake Angerjons, south of Umea, Sweden, off the Bay of Bothnia, Baltic Sea. Near Hetta was a major snowmobiling site. Terrain, mixed pine and aspen, rolling hills, sandy soil, lakes, creeks, rivers, more lakes. Many reindeer on or near road, very docile. Great souvenir store, much Sami, in Sonkamuotka, “Arctic Knife.” Stimulated local economy. Drove on into Sweden, near Muonio, mostly E4 and tributaries. Stopped at Gammelstad, old village and church, UNESCO, 3 star, near Lulea. Gammalstad is important as a well preserved market town...the church at the town center, with houses radiating out along the paths to distant villages. The villagers used these houses to stay in on market weekends, then return home. Gammalstad has scores of the them, preserved for centuries. In any case, a long day of driving, stopping finally, at Lake Angerjons south of Umea at 10PM.

Gammalstad 14th century church Pulpit Font, said to be much older than church Gammalstad houses Houses and church We also saw one of the old foundry towns Vicki hates these "old/new" shots I do