Sunne – Sundsbergs Estate

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History of the Estate

Sundsbergs estate can boast about being a source of inspiration to Selma Lagerlöf, Nobel Prize winner and one of Sweden's most famous writers. In her well-known novel Gösta Berling's Saga, Sundsbergs estate is used as the setting under the fictional name "Björne". Björne was the home of lord Melchior Sinclair, his wife, and his beautiful but obstinate daughter Marianne. In the story, the drama begins at the ball at Ekeby (today Rottneros Park) and ends with the action at björne.

The real history begins in the early 18th century, when Olof Antonsson was born. He had Sundsbergs estate built, and after his death it passed to his son Bengt Reinhold Antonsson along with seven other estate. Bengt Antonsson was a very rich man, who fell in love with Gustafva Sandelin, the local judge's wife. It is widely believed that Selma Lagerlöf based the character of the major's wife in Gösta Berling's Saga on Gustafva Sandelin. Bengt Antonsson died unmarried, and left all of his property to the local judge and his wife. Many people took as confirmation that Antonsson had been involved with the judge's wife.

In 1893, a fire ruined the main building of the estate. The family moved into the wing, which is the museum you can visit today. The last private owners of Sundsbergs estate were dentist Tore Sjöqvist and his wife Birgitta. They lived in the wing until the new main house was ready in 1978. The wing was then donated to Sunne municipality, as were several other buildings later on when Birgitta Sjöqvist passed.

Sundsbergs Estate Today

The estate is managed by the Sundsbergs Gård foundation. The museum shows three centuries of living culture. The old barn has been converted into a café and art gallery. Every year, the gallery shows up to twelve different exibitions, and hosts other cultural arrangements as well. In the café, you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and delicious home-baked goods. There is a small shop where you can buy handicrafts and often graphics from the exhibitions.

On the estate, you can also find three smaller museums; the forest museum, the textile room, and the dentist museum. All of them can be shown to groups by request.

During the summer, the second barn can be rented for arrangements such as auctions and trade fairs. Don't miss the annual antique fair!

Regular opening hours are Wednesday to Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm, around the year. To book a guided tour of the museums, please contact staff at the café by calling +46 (0)565 103 63.