Villa Svea – Hjo Town Park

Poetry and Pastimes at the Spa

Many guests at the spa stayed for four to six weeks, giving them ample time for writing poetry and enjoying the arts. Each season, a group of guests formed a committee known as the “Board of Use and Amusement” (Direktionen för Nytta och Nöje), tasked with enriching the social and cultural life of the resort.

One guest, upon leaving Hjo at the end of the season, wrote the following poetic farewell:

O you, great and lovely spa park in the Golden Hook,
Where Sweden’s trees – from spruce to beech –
And flora’s riches are so finely kept,
To you I dedicate a sonnet, heartfelt and deep.

You were created with wide-eyed beauty and care,
And peaceful comfort fills the air,
A precious pearl set by Lake Vättern’s rim,
I never tired of your leafy trim.

When moonlight in Vättern’s stillness lies
And peeks through treetop canopies,
O, what enchantment, what reverie!
But alas, when Vättern’s storms do rise,
And lash with fury through the skies,
They splash your green with foamy sea.

Facts about Villa Svea

Villa Svea has undergone surprisingly few exterior changes since it was built. Today, the building houses a restaurant, wellness businesses, and artist studios, making it a living part of Hjo’s creative and social life.

Read More

You can learn more about Villa Svea in Hjo Stadspark och dess byggnader by Per-Göran Ylander. The book is available at Hjo City Library, or for purchase at Hjo Bookshop and the Tourist Information Centre.

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