Märsta

Märsta
Märsta at night (Märstapunkten)
UTC+2 (CEST )

Märsta (Swedish:

Märsta is situated north of Steningevik, which is a bay of the lake Mälaren. The center of the town is located in a valley called Märstadal and the area Sätuna, which also holds the train station of the town.

The rest of the town's buildings spread upon and below the hills that form the valleys in Märsta. The stream that flows through the town out to Steningevik is called Märstaån. It is also located along the motorway

Coat of arms

The

Märsta existed as a municipality of its own between 1952 and 1970. The coat of arms was created in 1954 and became obsolete as municipal arms when Märsta was merged into Sigtuna Municipality in 1971.

History

The area has been populated since the Stone Age and due to the location of traditional Viking-land has rich archaeological remains from the Bronze Age, Iron Age and Viking Age. There are many runestones and older ruins of stone castles and walls in the Märsta area.

The area of today's modern Märsta consisted of big farms and small communities, that were (and still are) typical for the landscape of the province Uppland. Märsta was just one of these farms but due to the location and importance of travelling between Stockholm and Uppsala, the farm had to turn into an inn. The important travelling road can be traced back to the Viking Age and even older ages.

During the days of the Swedish Empire many of the old nobles became land owners in the area and built palaces like Steninge, Skånelaholm, Rosersberg and Venngarn. Even Sweden's oldest public school is located in Husby-Ärlinghundra, the parish of Märsta. It was built in 1697 and is today a museum.

The first telegraph pole in Sweden was placed in Märsta 1853 and the train station got built in the 1860s. It is currently the northern termini of the commuter railways in Stockholm, and a minor interchange to SJ. The name Märsta got along only because it was common for travellers even though they were placed on neighbouring farms.

The Märsta municipality was formed in 1952 due to a fusion of the parishes of Husby-Ärlinghundra, Norrsunda, Odensala and Skånela. In 1967 the parishes of Vidbo, Lunda and Skepptuna also merged into the municipality. In 1971 the cities of Sigtuna and Märsta were forged together and formed Sigtuna Municipality with Märsta as the seat of the ruling council.

In 1957 the Swedish government decided to build Stockholm's new international airport,

Culture and education

There is a private cinema, "Biokällan i Forum" in Märsta.^[3]

There is a public theatre facility, Sigtuna Municipal Theatre, "Kulturum" which is Märstas venue for theater, concerts and conferences. The theater was completed in autumn 1980 and was inaugurated in November of that year. The salon has 454 seats. Local productions, performances and conferences are held at "Kulturum". The theater is used for many different purposes, such as local productions, performances, arts school concerts, conferences and more. Once a month the City Council uses the Sigtuna Municipal Theatre as meeting room.^[4] Kulturum is in the same building as Märstas gymnasium, (Arlandagymnasiet).

Like many similar sized Swedish towns and central communities Märsta has pre school and pedagogical care facilities available to its citizens and also high schools and a gymnasium, (Arlandagymnasiet). Märsta also has a school for adult education. There is a public library in the town centre, (Märsta Centrum).

Business and employment

There are some local businesses in Märsta and also two major factories producing paint, Beckers Industrial Coatings AB,

Gallery

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  Residential area in Märsta
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  Residential high rise in Märsta
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  Central parts of Märsta
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  Märsta Railway Station
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  Valsta Centrum
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  Commutertrain at Märsta Railway Station
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  Märsta in the evening
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  Large residential complex in Tingvalla, Märsta
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  The sculpture "Blue Shape" by Larz Eldbåge in Märsta
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  Märsta Music and Culture School and Library
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  High rise in central parts of Märsta
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  Märsta Entrance Residential Area
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  New high rise at Märsta station seen from south
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  Valsta Watertower in Märsta By Night
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  Märsta railway station seen from train side.
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  Märsta railway station
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  High rise at Märsta railway station
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  Märsta railway station.
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  Märsta from east.
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  Residential area in the center of Märsta through a fish eye lens.
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  The church of Husby-Ärlinghundra. One of many churches in Märsta dating back to the early Medieval age.
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  Ekillagård Pedestrian Bridge.
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  Ekillaskolan in Märsta.
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  Valsta Centrum shopping mall.
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  Sculpture in a roundabout at Steningehöjden.
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  St Johannes Orthodox Church in Valsta, Märsta.
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  New residential area close to Märsta Centrum.
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  Arlandagymnasiet, a large Upper secondary school in Märsta
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  Forum in Märsta, Sweden. This is a local cinema and cultural meeting point run by the municipality
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  Valsta watertower in Märsta is a famous landmark
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  New high rise building in centre of Märsta
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  Commuter trains waiting for next assignment in Märsta
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  Entrance to Märsta Centrum shopping area
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  Saetuna Upper Primary school in Märsta
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  Famous local "Corner Pub" at Stationsgatan close to the railway station
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  Pinbackshallen indoor icehockey rink in Märsta
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  Arkaden close to Märsta Centrum

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Märsta.

• Sigtuna Municipality – Official site
• Märsta.nu – Information site
• History About Native Home Districts Of Märsta – Official site (archived 3 March 2006)