Huvudsta gård i Solna - mordhistoria och fin omgivning

Writer: Helena Bergström

Huvudsta gård in Solna is a short walk from the marina where we live. We are travel bloggers and often go far away to find exciting sights, but sometimes you just need to look around the corner.

Table of contents

Huvudsta farm in Solna

Huvudsta gård (or Hufvudsta gård) is a manor house in the municipality of Solna in Stockholm County. The mansion is located in the neighbourhood of Huvudsta, on the northern side of Lake Ulvsunda.

The farm has belonged to several famous families and has also been the scene of a murder plot. The farm is now owned by the Wibom family and today it is run conference activities.

Huvudsta farm - with an exciting history

In the 17th century (1651) the Imperial Admiral Count Gustaf Otto Stenbock built a main building. At this time, the building was a magnificent yellow-painted wooden castle.

In the 18th century (1750) the estate belonged to Mr Anders Plomgren, director of the East India Company. He had the old house demolished and built a new building in rococo style (now Huvudsta Old Castle). Through marriage, the estate became the property of the Horn family. In fact, it was here, at Count Claes Fredrik Horn's house, that Count Adolph Ludvig Ribbing and Captain Johan Jacob Ankarström planned the assassination of King Gustav III.

In the 19th century (1817) Huvudsta farm was bought by Johan Wibom, who worked as a gelbuter, a craftsman who casts brass objects. He settled in one of the wings and moved the old main building (now called 'Huvudsta Old Castle') north-west of the farm. Instead, he built a new main building in the Russian-Swedish Empire style. The idea was for the Russian ambassador to live here, but he died before he could move in.

Huvudsta farm is still today in the ownership of the Wibom family, and is inhabited by the 6th, 7th and 8th generations.

In addition to the main building and wings, there are many other buildings belonging to Huvudsta farm. Between 1818 and 1825, the state building, stables, barn wings, carriage and outbuilding wings, ice cellar and distillery were built. Very charming and beautiful buildings!

READ MORE: Hagaparken in Solna - castles, gazebos and pavilions
READ MORE: 7 parks on Kungsholmen in Stockholm - and a swimming area

Huvudsta old castle - the "killer castle"

Huvudsta Old Castle is a wooden building from the 18th century, which today is located about 300 metres northeast of Huvudsta Farm. The house was built in 1750 by Anders Plomgren as Huvudsta Farm's main building, but was moved to its current location in 1834. The building is sometimes called the "Murderer's Castle" because it was in this house that the assassination of Gustav III was planned.

After the house was moved, the farm's servants lived here. In 1958, the City of Solna took over the house, which had fallen into disrepair, and planned to demolish it. After a debate about its preservation, the Solna-Råsunda church community took over. The building was restored and until the summer of 2018 the Slottet preschool was run here.

Huvudsta gamla slott ligger vid Huvudsta gård

READ MORE: Drottningholm Palace in Stockholm - guide for your visit
READ MORE: Rörstrand Castle in Stockholm - the castle you never knew existed

Hufvudsta riding school at Huvudsta farm

Right next to Huvudsta farm is Hufvudsta riding school. Here you always see horses, as well as children, young people and adults riding.

Pep Park

Not far from Huvudsta Gård you will also find a "Pep Park". We'd never heard of the term before we saw it, but that's not surprising given that it's apparently Sweden's first. A Pep Park is designed to inspire children, young people and adults to play, move and exercise every day.

Were we inspired? Yep, you can see evidence of that here! There was both balancing and jumping.

However, we were not inspired enough to get involved in the 'Running Game'. Not this time anyway. You can compete against each other... or see if you can run faster or slower than various animal species.

Augustendal 4H farm

Right next to Pep Parken is the Augustendal 4H farm. There are various domesticated animals and activities where children can learn how to take care of the animals.

Café båthuset and Huvudstabadet

There is also a café and a swimming pool in the area. The café is right by the water and the swimming pool, which has a large outdoor pool, is just above it. "When Peter's youngest son Billie was younger, we used to go swimming there in the summer. Now we saw that they were rebuilding and modernising the pool.

Walk along the waterfront from Huvudsta farm

You can also walk along Lake Ulvsunda, which is really nice. If you go north, you can walk all the way to Sundbyberg. If you go south, you will pass two restaurants, one of them Mediterranean Sea and part Restaurant K4 located in the Pampas marina. If you continue on, you will reach Karberg Castle, and then enter Stockholm.

READ MORE: Pampas marina in Solna - all you need to know
READ MORE: Karlberg Castle Park - jogging trails and attractions

Have you been to the area around Huvudsta Farm? Are there areas where you live that are worth exploring further?

READ MORE: Things to do in Solna - 15 tips for activities and experiences
READ MORE: Experiences in Stockholm County - Norrtälje to Södertälje

Peter och Helena vid Görvälns naturreservat

11 Comments

Add yours →

Mamma C says:

We often forget what is close and almost on our own doorstep.
Carin

25 March 2020 - 9:16

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Of course it is! Feel like we need to get better at this! 🙂
  
  25 March 2020 - 19:30
  
Ditte says:

How nice to come back here. Have been very much here in the area over the years and rode here for many years. Lived near Huvudsta farm between 1959 and 1970. Later my parents lived at Jungfrudansen, almost next door to Huvudsta farm.
Near us is the entire Nackareservatet, Årstaviken with the old colony areas, Sicklaön in Nacka with great walking areas along the water past the old Finnboda shipyard, Kvarnholmen, Svindersviken, Ryssberget and the baroque mansion Svindersvik. And much more.Have now carefully explored the area. Also easy to take the ferry to Djurgården and on your can you can bring bicycles.

25 March 2020 - 9:31

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, I know you've been here a lot! Funny! Very nice you have around you! Nackareservatet we will definitely check out on occasion!
  
  25 March 2020 - 19:32
  
Lena i Wales says:

These days, you are lucky to be able to move around reasonably freely. Just hope that everyone is wise enough to keep their distance.
I'm in quarantine and that's probably going to be the case for a while.
So interesting when you take us in and around Stockholm. There is so much I had no idea about. Also fun that you write about it in historical perspective and the present.
Keep your distance and take care!

25 March 2020 - 10:36

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, we are really happy that we can move around freely! We do our best to keep our distance. I work from home and we don't use public transport, but take the car, bike or walk. There is a big focus on nature. I'm glad you like our reports! Take care of yourself!
  
  25 March 2020 - 19:33
  
  - Ruth i Virginia says:
    
    Agree with Lena in Wales. It is fun to read
    the history of the old buildings.
    And your photos are always SUPER !
    
    26 March 2020 - 5:55
    
Maria / MagnoliaMagis says:

What fun with some exciting history! I would have to do the Pep Park here on the farm...;) Yes, why not?!!! We had daughter and son-in-law here today. He brought golf clubs and stood and putted in the garden. Really cosy. Then they had to help me with the garden land; D So I already have a pep park; D

25 March 2020 - 19:26

BP says:

It was probably last year that we walked from Sundbyberg all the way past Karlberg Castle to Rörstrandsgaten and the Backpipers Inn pub. So, yes, I have walked past everything you show. Great fun to get some background material too;-)

Your mum, Helena, lives in Täby, so Rönninge village might be something to look at, but wait until the summer. Then there is Såstaholm Castle, which is now also a hotel and conference centre. Näsbypark Castle is also worth a visit.

25 March 2020 - 20:36

Lena - gott för själen says:

Imagine how many fun and interesting things there are in the neighbourhood. Grönsöö Castle, here in Enköping municipality, is nice to visit too. It is owned and guided by the von Ehrenheim family. I studied a little with one of the son's wives (do you say so?!). 🙂 Interesting to hear her talk about how the family was really passionate about cultural history and its preservation. Every autumn they have an apple market which is nice to visit.

I've heard of Huvudsta Farm, but didn't realise it was so big.

Hug Lena

25 March 2020 - 20:52

Ann-Louise Paulsson says:

Interesting reading and what nice old buildings! The first few times I visited Stockholm, I stayed with relatives in Jungfrudansen, which is not far away, but despite that, I don't think I've been here and walked once. Must probably write it down on my "to-do list".

25 March 2020 - 22:27

Huvudsta farm in Solna - murder story and beautiful surroundings

Writer: Helena Bergström

Huvudsta farm in Solna

Huvudsta farm - with an exciting history

Huvudsta old castle - the "killer castle"

Hufvudsta riding school at Huvudsta farm

Pep Park

Augustendal 4H farm

Café båthuset and Huvudstabadet

Walk along the waterfront from Huvudsta farm

You might also like:

Subscribe to our newsletter

11 Comments

Mamma C says:

Helena says:

Ditte says:

Helena says:

Lena i Wales says:

Helena says:

Ruth i Virginia says:

Maria / MagnoliaMagis says:

BP says:

Lena - gott för själen says:

Ann-Louise Paulsson says:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

ABOUT FREEDOMtravel

CONTACT US

Social media and newsletters

SEARCH AND FIND ON FREEDOMTRAVEL

Categories

Archives