Alfred Nobel's Björkborn in Karlskoga – where the Nobel Prize became possible

Text and photo: Helena Bergström

There is something special about stepping into a home where world history actually took a new direction. Alfred Nobel was a global citizen who lived and worked in several countries, but during his last summers in Sweden he lived at Björkborn in Karlskoga. It was precisely this Swedish address that would prove crucial – it was the one that made it possible to realize the will that created the Nobel Prize.

Björkborn – Alfred Nobel's last Swedish home

Alfred Nobel purchased Bofors in 1894, with the ambition to develop the traditional ironworks into a modern industrial operation with a focus on weapons production.

The Björkborn manor was included in the purchase, and Nobel lived here during the summers of 1894–1896. By this time, Nobel already had homes and businesses in France and Italy, among other places, and he was constantly moving between his factories and laboratories around Europe. Björkborn therefore did not become a permanent home but more of a Swedish base – a base that would become enormously important after his death.

Today, Björkborn in Karlskoga functions as a museum, where you can take guided tours of the manor and visit the Laboratory, the Smart House and the Bofors Industrial Museum.

Guided tour of the manor house

At designated times, guided tours of the manor are arranged, and it was very interesting to follow along.

The tour takes you through the various salons and rooms, and above all it is interesting to hear more about Alfred Nobel as a person. Although he was successful and wealthy, he was far from always happy.

He was periodically ill and lived a rather lonely life, despite his success and wealth. He wrote a lot of letters and he was involved in peace issues – despite being active in the arms industry – which can be seen as contradictory in a way.

Another person who plays an important role in the story is Nobel's young assistant Ragnar Sohlman. He took over Björkborn after Nobel's death, and was also the one who ensured that the will was carried out, so that the Nobel Prize actually came into being.

That's exactly what makes Björkborn so special. Not only did Alfred Nobel live here – this is where the legal key that made the Nobel Prizes possible was located.

The Laboratory and the Smart House

After the quiet tour of the manor, the laboratory feels almost like a contrast – here you meet Nobel the inventor, rather than the private individual. Here you can learn more about Nobel's experiments and inventiveness, including his great inventions in the form of dynamite and the fuse.

Right next door is the Smart House, which may be primarily aimed at children and families with children, but luckily you can also try it out as an adult. Some of the experiments were really entertaining and we were particularly stuck on the scents for a long time – imagine how difficult it must be to put names to different scents even though you instinctively recognize them!

Bofors Industrial Museum

The area also houses the Bofors Industrial Museum, which consists of several different exhibitions about Bofors and the industrial development that Nobel himself contributed to. Here you will find models, historical objects and stories about how Bofors developed during Nobel's time.

More Nobel tracks to discover

This was not our first encounter with Alfred Nobel. Previously, we have visited both Vinterviken in Stockholm, where dynamite was born, and the Nobel Museum in Batumi, Georgia. Björkborn was a nice complement – here you meet the person behind the name.

Read also:

• Vinterviken – where dynamite changed the world
• Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm – with objects from the laureates
• The Nobel Museum in Georgia – an unexpected Nobel trail

Good to know before your visit to Alfred Nobel's Björkborn in Karlskoga

Björkborn is easy to reach, both by car and camper, and there are plenty of parking spaces right next to the area. The entrance fee applies to all exhibitions on site as well as to the guided tours scheduled for the day. There is also a café on site.

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

Do you want to continue your journey to see and experience more near the museum and Karlskoga? Here are our best tips:

• Things to do in Kristinehamn
• Museums in Karlstad
• Things to do in Nora
• Things to do in Örebro
• Askersund and Stjernsund Castles