Nice local community centre by Lake Vättern - welcome to Brandstorp!

What a nice homestead by Lake Vättern! We have visited Brandstorp's local history association, which was surprisingly interesting and nice. This homestead offers fine houses and well-maintained museums, as well as a café and a charming "shop from the past".

Brandstorp local history centre

Brandstorp's local history society is one of around 2500 local history societies in Sweden, many of which run a local history centre. We recently started a co-operation with the Swedish Association of Local Heritage Associations, which we are very proud and happy about, and as part of this we have now made a visit to one of the associations. We have visited Brandstorp's homestead, and met some of the dedicated enthusiasts in the association.

Brandstorps hembygdsgård is located on the western side of Lake Vättern, between Hjo and Habo.

Visiting the Brandstorp homestead

Brandstorps hembygdsgård is open three days a week during the six busiest summer weeks of the year. They also accept bus trips and booked groups at other times of the year. We had booked a visit, but if you happen to be passing by Friday-Sunday in the middle of summer - just drop by!

Brandstorp's local history centre is run by the local history association. There is a lot of voluntary work behind it, but the association has also managed to apply for funding to develop its activities, and it shows. The house and museums are very well maintained, there is a lot to look at and the association has new projects in the pipeline.

The Egyptian wooden tent

Most of the buildings on the site are red cottages in the classic Swedish style. One building stands out, and that is the Egyptian wooden tent. The octagonal wooden tent was erected at Alvasjö Gård in 1872 by Baron Hans-Henrik von Essen.

The tent was mainly used as a summer residence for the sons, where they would be 'hardened into men'. It was also presented at the Paris World Fair in 1878, receiving a plaque and an honourable mention.

Museum at Brandstorp homestead

One of the buildings on the farm is labelled 'Museum'. Here you can see lots of artefacts donated by local people, telling you what life was like in the past.

Perhaps one of the finest items is a dollhouse that belonged to Ingrid von Essen. The dollhouse itself is a replica of the family's house at Strandvägen 49 in Stockholm.

What distinguishes this museum from many other local history museums, and at the same time makes it a working life museum, is that there are lots of objects and photos that tell the story of shipping and life at sea. Many people who lived here in the past worked in harbours or on board boats in Vättern.

Museum in a barn

It turned out that the house with the "museum" sign was far from being the only museum on the farm. For example, you can visit the large barn where you can see an exhibition about life in the countryside during the different seasons of the year. Here you can see old carriages, sledges and skis.

You can also peek into the women's kitchen or see how laundry was done in the past.

The smithy

Another small museum is an old blacksmith's shop, and at some point a blacksmith will come here and show how the work is done.

Outdoor toilet

We don't know if an outhouse can be called a muse, but maybe it can? Anyway, it's a bit of fun to stumble in here!

Shop at the Brandstorp homestead

Last, but far from least, we must tell you about the shop. Anders Levin Andersson, born in 1886, started his business in Fjällböl in 1909. Over time, it became a very well-stocked farm shop in Hästebäcken. When the shop was once closed, it was left as it was, and now it is on display at Brandstorp's local community centre. In the summer, and during various events, you can also buy caramels here!

Coffee and cakes

At Brandstorp's homestead there is also a coffee shop, and we were offered coffee and cakes here. Very good, and very nice!

Church of Brandstorp

Brandstorp church was unfortunately not open when we were here, but it should also be well worth a visit with fantastic ceiling paintings and very unusual wooden beams. The church is open this year (2022) from 15/5 - 31/8 and a recorded guide is available in Swedish, English and German.

Cheese in the local farm shop

Before leaving Brandstorp's homestead, we were tipped off about Wrångebäcksosten, which is made from the same recipe that was made at Almnäs back in the 1880s. We headed to the nearest farm shop and bought a piece. Our rating? Very, very good!

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

We were very pleased with our visit to Brandstorp's homestead. If you want to see more in the neighbourhood, you can take the opportunity to visit the beautiful wooden town of Hjo. It is also not far to the beautiful wooden church Habo kyrka. If you enjoy nature and fishing, you can also visit First Camp Hökensås Tidaholm. In addition, we can recommend visits to Karlsborg Fortress and Forsvik Mill, which offer interesting sights.

More heritage centres to visit

Have you visited Brandstorp's local history centre, or perhaps another local history centre? Are you perhaps even a member of a local history association? Please tell us!

There are also many other homesteads around Sweden. You can find one near you, or your holiday destination, by looking at The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions.

Facts about Brandstorp Homestead

• Address: The church village of Brandstorp
• Municipality: Habo municipality
• County: Jönköping County
• Landscape: Västergötland
• Read more: You can find more information at the farm's website

Services and practical information

• Opening hours: Hembygdsgården is open to the public Friday-Sunday for six weeks in the summer. At other times, you can enquire and book visits for groups.
• Café: The café is open when the local community centre is open.
• Museums: There are several museum buildings on the homestead. Visiting the museums, when they are open, is free of charge.
• Activities and events: Several different events are organised at Brandstorp's homestead, such as Homestead Day, Midsummer's Eve, veteran vehicle days and the Christmas market.
• Pitches/camping: Sjöbacka camping, on the shores of Lake Vättern in Rödån, is close by and offers beautiful views.