Norrviken Gardens
A set of gardens in different historical styles laid out from 1906 on a slope above Skalderviken bay.
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Rudolf Abelin began Norrviken in 1906 as a demonstration of garden history: separate compartments laid out down the slope in distinct styles - a baroque garden with clipped hedges and a water axis, a Renaissance garden, a Japanese garden, a romantic woodland walk, a villa garden - each meant to be read against the others. Abelin was a writer and propagandist for gardening as much as a designer, and the place was built to teach. The site steps down towards Skalderviken with the sea in view from the upper terraces. Ownership and funding have been unsettled for years, with periods of closure, so opening is worth checking before travelling.
What you actually see
- Compartments in different historical styles - baroque, Renaissance, Japanese.
- A water axis down the slope - the baroque garden's spine.
- A romantic woodland walk - at the lower end.
- Sea views from the terraces - over Skalderviken.
When to go
May to September; check that it is open. Two hours.
Honest expectations
The gardens have gone through closures and changes of management, and maintenance has varied. The season is short. The slope means steps throughout. Bastad's tennis week crowds the whole area.
Nearby
Bastad is east; Hovs Hallar is on the north coast.
What to pack for Norrviken Gardens
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
