Gunnebo House and Gardens

Overview

Gunnebo House and Gardens is an exquisite neoclassical estate 15 minutes south of central Gothenburg. Designed by architect Carl Wilhelm Carlberg in the 1780s, the manor house sits amid formal French gardens, an English landscape park, and an organic kitchen garden — a Downton Abbey moment in the Swedish countryside.

Highlights

• French Formal Gardens: Symmetrical parterre gardens with clipped hedges, gravel walks, and classical statuary.
• Kitchen Garden: A working organic garden supplying the estate café with heritage vegetables, herbs, and berries.
• Interior Tours: Guided walks through period-furnished rooms revealing 18th-century Swedish aristocratic life.

History

Built 1784–1796 for merchant John Hall, one of the wealthiest men in Sweden, Gunnebo represented the height of Gustavian neoclassicism. The family's fortunes declined, and by the 19th century the estate had changed hands multiple times. It was acquired by the city of Mölndal in 1949 and painstakingly restored to its 18th-century appearance.

Visitor Tips

• Tip 1: The organic café serves a superb lunch using produce from the kitchen garden — booking recommended on weekends.
• Tip 2: Take bus 761 from Korsvägen (about 20 minutes); the walk from the bus stop through the park is beautiful.
• Duration: 1.5–2 hours.