Did you know Farstaviken once formed a narrow strait? Imagine Viking ships sailing between Baggensfjärden and Torsbyfjärden. This wasn’t just any waterway. It was a vital passage a lifeline connecting different parts of the archipelago. Farstaviken is a sea inlet in Stockholm’s inner archipelago. It stretches from Baggensfjärden towards Gustavsberg in Värmdö. Land uplift gradually closed the strait. Today Gustavsberg’s center lies in the old valley.
Iron Age burial grounds line Farstaviken’s shores. They tell us about ancient settlements. The farms Ösby and Farsta thrived here. Farsta gave the inlet its name. In the Middle Ages two tax farms existed in Farsta. Östra and Västra Ekedal and Gottholma were also here. In 1618 Farsta estate boasted 11 acres of farmland. That was a lot for a Stockholm archipelago farm.
Farstaviken is about three kilometers long. Its narrowest point is just over 50 meters. This is between Villa Bråvalla and the Farstabro cottage. A floating bridge once crossed here. There was even a tavern. The depth varies from 5.3 meters to 20 meters.
The construction of Gustavsberg’s porcelain factory in the 1820s transformed Farstaviken. It became an important shipping lane. Then in 1985 the Farstabron bridge opened. This was the first fixed connection across Farstaviken. Before that people used the Värmdö road through Gustavsberg. Until the 1860s a floating bridge existed. This too crossed the inlet near Farstabro.
Farstaviken’s shores boast impressive buildings. Farsta Castle achieved its current form in 1894 thanks to architect Axel Lindegren. Villa Bråvalla designed in 1869 is one of Sweden’s first villas in Nordic architectural style. Villa Farsta udde and Villa Strandvik both designed by Ferdinand Boberg in 1910 and 1911 respectively add to the beauty of this area. Täckudden a villa and headland on the southern shore completes the picture.
Farstaviken’s history is a blend of ancient settlements thriving trade and architectural marvels. It’s a story woven into the very fabric of Stockholm’s history. Stand here and let the waters whisper tales of Vikings and porcelain makers. Let Farstaviken’s beauty captivate you. Let its story resonate within you long after you’ve left its shores.