Storskolan – Sjögatan 1

From Washing Pier to Evening Swims

Just below, at Skolbryggan (the School Pier), generations of women with red, chapped hands once scrubbed long lines of tablecloths, bed linen and what were called “kortvaror” – household and haberdashery items. Those days are now long gone, and today the pier is a place of peace and pleasure, where locals gather for a relaxing evening swim or to enjoy the stunning views across Lake Vättern.

The pier is open to the public, so during summer, we warmly encourage you to walk down for a refreshing dip in Vättern’s crystal-clear waters. In winter – we’ll leave it to the brave to decide!

Facts about Storskolan

This is a timber building clad in hand-planed wooden panelling. It is believed to have been constructed around 1835. Its uses over time include:

• Poorhouse: 1834–1842

• School: 1842–1870 (following an upper-floor extension)

• Grocery shop: 1870–1965

• Glazier’s workshop: 1965–1985

• General store: 1985–2001

Today, the courtyard buildings have been converted into private homes.

The Paint Staircase by the Sign

If you want to find out which colours and types of paint were previously used on a building, you can investigate the older paint layers by creating what's known as a “paint staircase” – one is displayed here on the wall next to the QR code.

To create a paint staircase, you can use fine sandpaper or a scalpel to carefully scrape through the layers. Keep in mind that colours may have changed due to dirt, ageing or exposure to light. Pigments can fade, shift, or become yellowed over time. To get a better sense of the original colour, you can apply pure linseed oil over the aged paint – linseed oil paint becomes lighter in light and darker in darkness.

Linseed oil layers are also much thinner than layers of modern paints – and uncovering them takes patience!

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