Hotel Bellevue, Villa Viktoria & Bellevueterrassen

A Landmark of Modernism

Located in the south-west corner of Hjo Town Park, today’s Hotel Bellevue replaced the earlier Railway Hotel in the 1970s. The new building was constructed in two phases and designed by Hans-Erland Heinemann, an architect from Skövde.

With its bold volumes, use of modern materials and colours, and clear vertical orientation, the hotel stands in stark contrast to the older wooden buildings of the park. Large vertical window panels and the distinctive sloped roofline, which projects sharply from the facade, emphasise its modernist expression.

About the Architect: Hans-Erland Heinemann

Hans-Erland Heinemann (1919–2003) graduated from the Royal Institute of Technology in 1947 and continued his studies at the University of Paris from 1948 to 1949.

In addition to Hotel Bellevue in Hjo, he also designed Skövde’s Culture Centre and Hotel Billingehus on the mountain plateau of Billingen. (Not to be confused with Hotel Billingen in Skövde’s city centre.)

Heinemann was also responsible for the design of around 150 retirement homes across Sweden. Besides being an architect, he was an active writer for Svenska Dagbladet, as well as an author of both fiction, non-fiction – and poetry.

Villa Viktoria

Part of Hotel Bellevue’s operations, Villa Viktoria is the site where you’ll find this information sign. This 1½-storey timber villa, built on a traditional stone foundation (torpargrund), was constructed in 1882 – the same year as neighbouring Villa Flora – and was designed by architect P.A. Pettersson from Värsås.

Unlike Villa Flora, Villa Viktoria does not have a tower. It stands out for its modest, harmonious design and plays a quieter role in the ensemble of historic villas in the park.

Bellevueterrassen – The Linden-Shaded Promenade

The open area between Hotel Bellevue and Guldkroksbadet is known as Bellevueterrassen. Under the shade of the linden tree, visitors can relax on a park bench, watch swimmers down at Guldkroksbadet, see the steamboat Trafik return from a cruise on Lake Vättern, or enjoy the lively harbour atmosphere with boats and promenading locals.

You might even be tempted to play a round of outdoor chess.

Erik the Lisping and Lame – A Wooden Statue with a Story

Bellevueterrassen was once home to a wooden statue of Erik the Lisping and Lame (Erik Läspe och Halte) – a fictional king of the equally fictional town of Grönköping.

Although Erik Eriksson was in fact a real Swedish king in the 1220s, Hjo has no historical ties to him. The statue, instead, nods to Grönköping, a satirical “everytown” created by Grönköpings Veckoblad, said to be located somewhere between Hjo and Skövde.

The statue was created by Calle Örnemark, a sculptor from Jönköping known for using reclaimed timber. Other notable works by Örnemark include Giant Vist, which stands by the E4 motorway near Huskvarna.

Since 2019, the statue of Erik the Lisping and Lame can be seen indoors at Kulturkvarteret.

Self-Guided Tour

Take a stroll and explore the historical architecture and craftsmanship of Hjo at your own pace.

Quick Facts

• Number of stops: 17

• What to do: At each stop/sign, scan the QR code

• Starting point: Any stop

• What you need: Mobile phone and QR code scanner

• Duration: Around 1 hour

• Walking distance: Approx. 1.5 km

• Season: All year round

• Price: FREE