The municipality consists of the old towns of Strängnäs and Mariefred and the villages of Åkers styckebruk and Stallarholmen.
Strängnäs
Strängnäs is an old town with a history going back to the Viking era. Its location on the shores of Lake Mälaren has made Strängnäs an important trading centre and meeting place down the ages.
The town has been an episcopal See since the 12th century, and it played an important role as a church administrative centre in the Middle Ages. Work started on the construction of the Cathedral, perched on a hill, in 1260 and it came into use in 1280. Strängnäs was granted its charter in the same year, which makes it one of Sweden's oldest towns. In the Middle Ages it was among the country's most important towns and the Bishop was the King's representative.
Alongside the Cathedral is Roggeborgen, which was built in the time of Bishop Kort Rogge and completed in 1501. Both Roggeborgen and the Cathedral are closely associated with King Gustav Vasa, because it was here that he was elected as King on 6 June 1523, a date still celebrated as Sweden's National Day. Large parts of the town were destroyed by fire in 1871 but some areas were spared and have been preserved as they were before the blaze - for example, in the centre along Västervikshamnen, and around the windmill and church.
Gyllenhjelmsgatan and Grassagården are examples of what Strängnäs once looked like. Grassagården is an old burgher's residence which is now a local historical museum. The old harbour is now a marina with a beautiful lakeside promenade which is an oasis for visitors and local residents alike. Now Strängnäs is not just an idyllic small town with a mixture of historic buildings and modern architecture but also a modern and diversified industrial community, particularly in the areas of chemistry and biotechnology.
Mariefred
Mariefred acquired its name from the monastery Pax Mariae (Maria's Peace) which was founded 500 years ago by Sten Sture the Elder. There are no remains above ground of the monastery, which was sited on the spot where Mariefred's church, built in 1624, now stands.
The town is dominated by Gripsholm Castle, a lavishlybuilt Vasa fortress located on an island on the other side of the bay. The former royal barn which at one time housed cattle, horses and a hay-loft has now been beautifully renovated and has become the home of Grafikens Hus (The House of Graphics), an internationally important centre for the graphic arts.
Although the town has often been ravaged by fire, many old buildings have survived. The Kungshustorget square is the oldest part of the town with a royal residence which was built to accommodate King Gustav III's courtiers. The charming small town is characterised by its narrow streets and low wooden houses in gentle colours. The buildings in the centre are a mixture of boatmen's cottages and handicraft workshops dating from the 18th century, along with burghers' homes from the early 19th century and more modern houses built in the early 20th century.
Åkers styckebruk
Åkers Styckebruk acquired its name from the Strängnäs area's oldest company with a history going back to the 16th century. It was used at one time to manufacture cannons. Equally old is the company that manufactured gunpowder for the cannons, Åkers Krutbruk. Both companies now manufacture different products. In the iron industry's heyday, the ore was excavated from various sites, notably from the Skottvång mine, which is probably the best known local historical site.
Åkers Styckebruk is set in an area of traditional industry and forests with plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities. The Sörmlandsleden long distance footpath goes through the area and the countless streams and rivers are ideal for swimming or fishing.
The Åkers Bergslag area stretches between Strängnäs, Gnesta and Flen. The area is a living museum with a number of places where you can learn about people's life and work in the heyday of the iron industry. There is a wide variety of fauna and flora in Åkers bergslag's magical woodlands. Protected birds including the eagle owl and various falcons, including the peregrine, breed in the area. At Visnaren and Marvikarna you can go canoeing in the summer or skating in the winter. The various rivers and streams lead you all the way to Trosa on the Baltic coast. The wheelhouse at Göksjön This facility was used for pumping out the mines at Bredsjönäs. The power derived from the movement of the wheel could be transmitted over long distances via a waterwheel run rod.
Stallarholmen
Stallarholmen and Selaön,Sweden's largest island on a lake, are noted for agriculture, fishing and various leisure activities. The area has a history going back to the Bronze Age and has one of Sweden's richest collections of prehistoric remains. Also in the area is the magnificent baroque Mälsåker manorhouse, designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Elder.
At almost every farm and village you can find stone circles, many dating from the Old Stone Age. The Åsa burial ground, probably the best known, has some 250 stone circles and several rune stones. Stallarholmen is located on the shores of Lake Mälaren. Its closeness to the water and beautiful countryside have made Stallarholmen and its surrounding areas a popular destination for an outing. The area's population doubles during the summer months.