Mitt på landet stenen (The Midland Stone)

The Midland Stone was erected in 1673 on the initiative of Per Brahe the Younger.

At the time, the stone marked the geographical centre of Visingsö and formed part of 17th-century efforts to survey, map and monitor the landscape – long before agricultural reforms such as the Great Partition were implemented.

Since the stone was erected, both land uplift and erosion have altered the shape of the island. The northern and southern parts of Visingsö have risen to different degrees, meaning that the stone no longer lies exactly in the centre of the island. This demonstrates how nature’s slow processes affect the landscape over time, regardless of human plans.

The Midland Stone is an important historical source. It tells the story of how the rulers of the Great Power era used science, surveying and monuments to organise and govern the kingdom – as well as of the interplay between humans and nature.

Administrator: Visingsö Local Heritage Society