Karlslund Manor House and gardens

Karlslund Manor House and its gardens are a fascinating blend of natural and cultural history, only a stone's throw from the middle of Örebro. Karlslund Manor House and the buildings belonging to it are intermixed with industrial history remains and parks and gardens several hundred years old to form a particularly impressive cultural and natural environment. Originally, in the 16th century, the site of the Manor House and gardens was used for royal farm buildings and Karlslund was mainly concerned with agriculture. In addition there were other activities here from time to time, such as brickmaking, the distilling of snaps, limeworking, shipping transactions, linseed-oil production, milling and the production of electric power.

Nowadays there are museums, displays and exhibitions, shops, working artists, crafts- and arts-and-crafts people, and parks and gardens. Karlslund is open all the year round both for peaceful walks and exciting discoveries.

Karlslund Manor House

Karlslund Manor House was built between 1804 and 1809 by Christian Günther. In 1819 a later owner, Carl Anckarsvärd, had the manor house rebuilt and altered to the appearance we know today. The architect behind this work was the famous Carl Christopher Gjörwell, who also furnished the upper storey of the manor house and laid out the beautiful park. Gjörwell also had the Stora Salongen (Grand Saloon) decorated with rare French panorama wallpapers. These show the most important ports of France and were hand-printed c. 1800. They are among the oldest rolled wallpapers extant in Sweden.

Today Karlslund Manor House is used as a restaurant and conference centre. Here one can book Sunday lunches, Christmas dinners, and so on. In the summer there is also a pleasant café on the terrace.

Gardens and parks

Karlslund has a 350-year-old history of cultivation. An extant map of 1655, drawn by Johan P:son Thoring, provides the earliest evidence we have for horticulture in the area. Already in 1820 the park and gardens at Karlslund Manor were, broadly speaking, similar in form and characteristics to those of today.

The 19th century as a whole was an intensive period for Karlslund gardens and park with extensions, improvements and new buildings under construction. These included the orangery, the head gardener"s house and greenhouses. During the late 19th century extensive areas were added in the form of a natural park on thehillside and an  orchard of more restrained design. Today work is in progress to recreate the gardens and parks round Karlslund Manor House.

Attractions

There are several cultural history displays and museums at Karlslund. In the Dairy is the Statare Museum (statare were farm labourers on big estates who were paid in kind and lived in tied accommodation), which shows how a statare home with one room and a kitchen might have looked at Karlslund as late on as the 1930s. The Karlslund power station, one of the first of its kind in Sweden,  was built in 1897 and is the only one from this period which is still running. In the power station you can see machinery 100 years old.
In the old mill building of 1889 belonging to Karlslund Manor House you will now find a modern discovery-orientated museum Tekniska Kvarnen (Technology Mill). Here there are displays telling the fascinating story of agricultural  development and the exciting inventions of yesteryear.  Have a look, too, at the "teknotek", Insight - a hall of natural science experiments. Nor should you miss the new display,  "På Spåret",  (On the Rails) - a gigantic miniature world with model railways, etc. There is also a café and exciting Experiment Shop at Technology Mill.

In the old greenhouse there is a flourishing herb garden with wonderful scented kitchen herbs - just the thing for a peaceful wander.

Shops and craft workshops

There are several different shops and craftsmen's workshops at Karlslund. In the Dairy you will find the wood carver and hand-painted glass in delectable colours and patterns. Karlslund also has its own smithy from which heavy hammer blows can be heard when Lina, the smith, is working the iron. At the boatbuilder's you can order the boat of your dreams, and in the old Henhouse there is a shop with blown glass. Then there is Gallery Karlslund, where you can see and discover modern art of high quality. The café on the terrace, open in the summer at the Manor House, offers coffee and other good things during your walk. In the other craft workshops are sold articles for everyday use as well as presents made on the premises.

Events

Karlslund is a living natural and cultural environment with historical and cultural events all the year round, including Music at the Manor House, Herb-garden weekends, Karlslund Day, the Michaelmas Fair, and seminars, lectures, church services, guided cultural tours, garden history tours, and so on. For the full programme see www.orebro.se/karlslund or call 019-21 62 20.

Getting to Karlslund

Karlslund is only 5 kilometres from the centre of Örebro. This makes it easy to find your way here both by bicycle and by bus.

By bicycle

Follow the cycle route from Örebro Castle along the banks of the Svartån out to Karlslund. On the way you will find many interesting attractions. You can obtain a map from the Tourist Office at the Castle. Cycles can be hired at Hamnplan.

By bus

Bus 16 will take you to Karlslund and bus stops are to be found in the town centre, for instance in Storgatan, by Gamla Teatern (the Old Theatre) and at McDonald"s in Drottninggatan. Some buses go all the way up to Karlslund but most go to the terminus at Hästhagarna below the Manor House.

By car

If you are coming by motorway turn off towards Garphyttan to get to Karlslund. From there the route is well signed. From the middle of Örebro follow the signs to Garphyttan. There are then signs to "Karlslund".

Information

Bookings

Guided tours of Karlslund can be booked at the Dairy, tel: 019‑21 21 84

Info weekdays Phone. 019‑21 62 20 Fax: 019‑21 63 30 e-mail: karlslund@orebro.se www.orebro.se/karlslund