Söderbykarl

Two parishes that became one

Söderbykarl has medieval origins and was originally called simply Söderby — the name is documented in 1292 as ecclesie Sudherby, and written as Sudherby in 1344. It simply contains the cardinal direction south and by, meaning "farm" or "village".

The neighbouring parish Karlskyrka is documented even earlier, in 1287. The two merged on 20 December 1796, and that is when the name becomes Söderby-Karl.

Remaining from Karlskyrka is Karls kyrkoruin, with medieval masonry, and Sankt Karlungs källa.

The Bronze Age landscape

The parish is unusually rich in archaeological remains. From the Bronze Age there are 325 burial cairns with stone heaps — a very high number. From the Iron Age some forty burial grounds and three ancient fortresses, and two runic inscriptions have been found.

It says something about the region: people have lived here, worked the land and buried their dead for three millennia.

The landscape

Söderbykarl lies north of Norrtälje, with Lake Erken to the southwest, Närdingen to the west and Bagghusfjärden at the far east. The central and western areas are flatland, with flat forest country around it.

Within the parish lies Rörviks naturreservat, as well as the villages of Norra Råda, Södra Råda and Sonö, and Broby herrgård.

Things to see

• Söderby-Karls kyrka — the parish church.
• Karls kyrkoruin — medieval masonry, remaining from the old Karlskyrka parish.
• Sankt Karlungs källa
• Rådabadet — at the western part of Lake Råda, between Södra and Norra Råda.
• Rörviks naturreservat

Getting there

National road 76 and regional road 283 run through the parish.