Ånabacken

Ånabacken and Baggstedsgården

The large white-rendered villa you see is Baggstedsgården, where Dr Baggstedt lived at the end of the 19th century while working as a spa physician at the health resort in Hjo Town Park.

The park-like garden was laid out by Dr Baggstedt at the same time as the town park and spa were being planned. A wealthy man, he also wished to create a small park on his extensive grounds, which stretch all the way down to the River Hjoån.

A Fairytale Garden

The German landscape architect Johan Joseph Sternemann designed both the park and the garden. The result was a fairytale garden. The artificial islands remain, although the beautiful stone bridges have been lost. The winding paths have been recreated, and the small pavilion, with its richly carved wooden details, still stands on one of the islands.

The Stable Wing

A little further up Ånabacken is the long stable wing belonging to Baggstedsgården, housing storage sheds, a carriage house, a hayloft and privies.

Until the 1980s, the house and garden, which extend all the way down to the River Hjoån, were in a fairly poor state. Today, they have been carefully restored and converted into apartments.

The River Hjoån

Below Ånabacken flows the small River Hjoån. Over the centuries, the river and its valley have played an important role in the town’s development. Flowing water provided power, and early on the valley became home to small industries such as forges, fulling mills and watermills.

A Spawning Ground for Trout and Grayling

The River Hjoån is also an important spawning ground for trout and grayling. On dark autumn evenings, visitors can join a trout safari and watch lively trout as they gather to spawn.