1. Selma Lagerlöf’s Mårbacka
Beautifully situated with a view over Lake Mellan-Fryken in the countryside of Östra Ämtervik in Sunne municipality is Mårbacka. Here, the author Selma Lagerlöf grew up in the mid-1800s. The upbringing at Mårbacka shaped Lagerlöf, who became one of the leading authors of her time and a pioneering feminist. In 1909, Lagerlöf became the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Until her death, Lagerlöf lived at her beloved Mårbacka. Today, during a visit to Mårbacka, you can see an incredible untouched interior with beautiful details. Art enthusiasts will be impressed by Lagerlöf’s private collections. During your visit to the memorial estate, you can also visit the shop, the café, and an exhibition about the Swedish school over time.
Mårbacka in summer attire
2. Alster’s Manor – Gustaf Fröding’s Childhood Home
It was at Alster’s Manor outside Karlstad that Gustaf Fröding was born in August 1860. Fröding became one of Sweden’s foremost authors and poets during his lifetime. Today, you can visit Alster’s Manor to take in the fantastic environment with beautiful buildings and pleasant nature experiences. Additionally, a visit to the restaurant and the shop can enhance your visit.
Perhaps you recognize the name Alster from one of Fröding’s poems, later interpreted by the band Mando Diao:
There is shimmer in the clouds and glitter in the lake
There is light over beaches and headlands
And around me stands the glorious forest so green
Behind the meadows’ swaying grass
[…]Where you, dear figures and visions, remember
Gustaf Fröding (1896)
There stands emptiness, barren and bare
And my eternal lullaby is all that remains
Of the old in Alster’s valley
There is a beautiful garden at Alster’s Manor, why not have a bite to eat at the café next to it?
3. von Echstedtska Manor
Do you want to see impressive building preservation, Värmland’s clone orchard of apple varieties and perhaps Sweden’s most famous outhouse? Then a visit to the von Echstedtska Manor is for you! On a hill among leafy trees, von Echstedtska Manor sits like a red lingonberry in green lingonberry foliage. Here you can see the meeting between Värmland architecture and hand-painted walls with everything from biblical scenes to blooming rococo. At von Echstedtska Manor outside Säffle, there is also an incredible outdoor toilet with ceiling paintings from the 18th century. Don’t miss a visit to the herb garden and the café!
Beautiful hand-painted walls are a hallmark of von Echstedtska Manor
Von Echstedtska Manor’s beautiful interior
Von Echstedtska Manor’s Falu red exterior
4. Erlandergården
There are also historical homes to visit in Värmland for those interested in political history – take the opportunity to visit Erlandergården! For 23 years, the Värmland native Tage Erlander was Sweden’s Prime Minister. Erlander was born fifty kilometers north of Karlstad in beautiful Ransäter, which lies next to the winding Klarälven. It is an area where many icons have grown up – Erlandergården is a stone’s throw from the childhood home of the author, poet, and composer Erik Gustaf Geijer. The Erlander family lived on the upper floor of the school building where Tage Erlander’s father worked. Both the school and the residence are preserved in their original condition and can be visited with a guide. Next to the schoolhouse, you can also visit the newer exhibition house with a permanent exhibition about Tage Erlander’s life and enjoy a fika.
5. Ransäter Heritage Center
A stone’s throw from Erlandergården is the Ransäter Heritage Center. Since 1921, the heritage center has hosted many events and also offers a historical retrospective with many old buildings in the area. Visit the museums that showcase the county’s historical industries, from agriculture and iron industry to hunting and fishing. The manor house from 1684 forms the core, surrounded by 65 buildings. Explore exhibitions like the Home, the Iron, the Agriculture Museum, the Forest Museum, the Soldier’s Cottage, the Shoemaker’s Shop, the Coffee Museum, and Grandma’s Closet. Guided tours must be booked in advance. The area also includes a cottage village, camping site, inn, general store, and café. Stroll around all the cozy little red buildings and be fascinated by the different architectural styles.
6. Sahlström Manor
Sahlström Manor, located in the picturesque village of Utterbyn in Torsby, is a treasure of Swedish cultural and art history. The manor holds memories of fascinating artist fates and colorful personalities. Here lived the three artist siblings Anna, Bror, and Ida Sahlström, and their artist friends like Ivan Aguéli, Siri Derkert, Carl Wilhelmsson, Einar Nerman, and Karl Nordström visited them. In this turn-of-the-century environment, there is a rich collection of art and crafts. The main building now functions as a museum, which can only be visited through guided tours.
Welcome to the historical homes in Värmland!
