Norrvikens trädgårdar - fantastisk park utanför Båstad

Writer: Helena Bergström

Norrviken Gardens, located outside Båstad in Skåne, was built in the late 19th century by gardening enthusiast Rudolf Abelin. Today this is a fantastic park with a range of fascinating style gardens, a restaurant and even activities for children. A wonderful destination!

Table of contents

Norrviken Gardens

Norrviken's gardens offer beautiful environments, exotic plants and a whole range of experiences that are a delight to the eye. In the centre of the park is a beautiful house called Villa Abelin.

Norrviken Gardens is located outside Båstad on the Bjäre Peninsula in north-eastern Skåne.

Gardening enthusiast Rudolf Abelin

Rudolf Abelin was born in 1864, the only son of a family of officers. In Rudolf's circles, becoming a gardener wasn't considered fancy enough, so he started studying law, but when the opportunity arose, he dropped out and trained as a horticulturalist (plant biologist) and pomologist (tree fruit expert).

Abelin came to Båstad in 1905, attracted by Ellen Key and his childhood friend Ludvig Nobel, and here he found the perfect place for his garden. Here he created one of the largest orchards in the Nordic countries with more than five thousand fruit trees and twice as many hazelnut bushes.

Around his home, Villa Abelin, Rudolf created a number of different style gardens, inspired by different cultures and time periods. For example, the park's Japanese garden was one of the first Asian gardens in Sweden. Rudolf constantly developed his gardens, experimenting with colour, water and plants that attract birds and butterflies.

Villa Abelin at Norrviken Gardens

Villa Abelin is a beautiful villa in the centre of the park. Here you will find the restaurant Orangeriet, with dishes made from locally produced ingredients.

One park - many gardens

Norrviken Gardens is a large park filled with different gardens and greenhouses. Here you can experience the different style gardens: Japanese Garden, Baroque Garden, Water Garden, Renaissance Garden and North German Planting, Eastern Terrace and Romantic Garden.

In addition to these gardens, there are countless cultivations, greenhouses, sculptures, exhibitions and areas for children. Here is a small selection of photos from our walk in the park. There is even more to discover on site!

Japanese garden

The Japanese garden is located in a steep ravine, making the environment feel exciting and almost wild. Here you'll find a wide range of exotic trees brought in from Asia.

Here and there you can sit down on a bench, or you can find a slightly exotic resting place with a roof.

Tors park

Tors Park is a somewhat obscure part of the park that has been a kind of "large-scale field experiment" that has been "overlooked". It contains a wide range of unique trees and shrubs and a new project, starting in 2021, will develop this part of the park.

Erik's house

Erikshus is "Norrviken's green room" - a greenhouse where exhibitions, training courses and events are organised. Right now you can see the exhibition "In the light of the glades - a living fairy tale".

Victoria House and glass pavilions

The Victoria House (which you can also see in the above image) is perhaps one of the most beautiful buildings in the park. Parties and weddings are organised here. Right next door is Norrviken's kitchen garden. Abelin believed that a garden should not only be beautiful - it should also be useful.

The apiary

Another interesting place in Norrviken's gardens is the apiary. Here thousands of bees live in small carved hives. In the centre is a small gazebo, where you can borrow a protective suit if you want to get to know the bees better!

The water garden

The water garden was the last garden created by Rudolf Abelin. Here water moves through small rapids and falls, and at the bottom there is a small pond with Asian fish.

Activities for children

There are also plenty of activities for children at Norrviken Gardens. These include Hasse's Happy Garden, where you can grow things to eat, go on a treasure hunt or learn how to grow and harvest crops. Where does the door go? It leads to the Forest Loop, where Sally the bee and her friends live ...

Visiting Norrviken Gardens

Visiting Norrviken's gardens was a fantastic experience. On a nice day you can easily spend many hours, or even a whole day, here. At the website of the gardens you can see what's going on during your visit. We can also tell you that a new cultural centre, Ravinen konsthall, is about to be completed in the park area.

Where can you stay or park your motorhome?

Not far from Norrviken Gardens is Norrviken Camping, a pleasant Caravan Club campsite. There are both camping plots and pitches for motorhomes.

Video "Norrviken"

More things to see and do near Norrviken Gardens

From Norrviken's gardens it is not far to Båstad, with restaurants and fine sandy beaches. Nearby you can also visit the interesting Birgit Nilsson Museum or perhaps make an excursion to Hovs Hallar or Torekov and Hallands Väderö. We can also recommend a visit to pleasant Ängelholm with our 9 best tips.

Bästa i Skåne — All our top tips for holidays in Skåne

Facts about Norrviken Gardens

Landscape: Skåne
County: Skåne County
Municipality: Båstad
Address: Kattviksvägen 233
Size: 14 hectares
Behaviour: 1906-1920
Owners: Backahill AB

Guided tours and activities

Guidance: Garden history tours are available at certain times (limited number of places and separate fee).
Exhibitions: Exhibitions and other activities/events are organised. See the garden's website for up-to-date information.
For children: Hasse's happy garden, family forest trail and more.
Meeting and conference: The premises can be booked for meetings and events.

Services and practical information

Opening hours: May-September daily 10-17, October Wed-Sun 10-17 and November-December Sat-Sun 10-17 (2021).
Prices: Day entrance for adults 150 SEK (2021). Children 0-18 have free admission. pensioners have 10 % discount.
Food service: The Orangery's restaurant serves an a la carte menu. Light meals, drinks and coffee can be purchased in the Salamander café & bar.

READ MORE: Things to do in Skåne - sights and experiences
READ MORE: Holidays in Sweden - your guide to Sweden's best destinations

10 Comments

Add yours →

Nils-Åke+Hansson says:

Definitely worth a visit, it's been many years since we were there. So your report attracts us.

26 August 2021 - 7:46

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  We really liked it! A lovely park! 🙂
  
  26 August 2021 - 18:10
  
Ninnie says:

Oh, Norrviken is so nice! We were there last summer. We have been here before, but it was many years ago - in the early 90s, I think. Do not remember that the park gave such a nice and well-kept impression then, so we were pleasantly surprised. Dreamily beautiful!

26 August 2021 - 8:46

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  The park felt very well maintained now! I have been told that they have had tough times during periods, but now it felt very nice and well cared for! Well worth a visit! 🙂
  
  26 August 2021 - 18:13
  
bmlarsreseblogg says:

I haven't been there since I was a child, but oh how nice it looks and what a wonderful day you had there!

26 August 2021 - 8:50

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Really nice and well maintained! And yes, a lovely day! 🙂
  
  26 August 2021 - 19:02
  
Monica says:

Been there but long ago and so incredibly nice and well-kept it looks today, very similar to the beautiful English castle parks and botanical parks there and much inspiration has been taken from them. There are very many volunteers who make an effort, in fact, when applying for a job whatever it is, doctors, teachers, for example, are asked what you are engaged in for volunteer work in your spare time or at least that you have some similar commitment in your CV from your teenage years already. And preferably a number of other things outside the profession and on that many recommendations.
Here, wage earners probably do all the work.
And beautiful it is. Nice to see your beautiful photos.

26 August 2021 - 16:56

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  It's really nice and it feels like the park is very well taken care of! Interesting to hear about comparisons with English parks and how volunteering works!
  
  26 August 2021 - 19:03
  
BP says:

Imagine if these fine gardens existed in "our" Norrviken in Sollentuna. I especially like the Japanese part of the garden. Motorhomes seem more welcome there than in Båstad...

26 August 2021 - 20:16

Lena - gott för själen says:

Wow, what a place! Have heard a lot about it, but haven't seen any pictures as far as I can remember. Looks like a place we would like.

Now I will finally try to catch up on reading in here. Have missed it! Sometimes life and other priorities come in between unfortunately. But now so 🙂

Hug Lena

10 November 2021 - 21:05

Norrviken's gardens - fantastic park outside Båstad

Writer: Helena Bergström

Norrviken Gardens

Gardening enthusiast Rudolf Abelin

Villa Abelin at Norrviken Gardens

One park - many gardens

Japanese garden

Tors park

Erik's house

Victoria House and glass pavilions

The apiary

The water garden

Activities for children

Visiting Norrviken Gardens

Where can you stay or park your motorhome?

Video "Norrviken"

More things to see and do near Norrviken Gardens

Facts about Norrviken Gardens

Guided tours and activities

Services and practical information

You might also like:

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10 Comments

Nils-Åke+Hansson says:

Helena says:

Ninnie says:

Helena says:

bmlarsreseblogg says:

Helena says:

Monica says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Lena - gott för själen says:

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