Stadsmuseum Carlsro

About the museum

Carlsro is the city museum of Kristinestad and lies on the shore of Storträsket, about five kilometres north of the town. Commercial councillor and shipowner Carl Alfred Carlström had his summer villa built in 1896 to designs by the architect Fredrik Thesleff. Large parties were held in the villa, strawberries were grown in the garden, and peacocks strolled about.

Carlström lost the villa in a bankruptcy in 1910, when a large embezzlement scandal came to light, and it was sold at auction the following year. Between 1922 and 1945 the building was a summer hotel and guesthouse under various entrepreneurs, but the business made losses, and the villa stood unused until 1960.

The villa was bought at auction by Åke Weckström, a resident of Kristinestad, who founded a museum in the building. It became the city museum in 2002. The exhibition in the main building still bears Weckström’s stamp, as a large part of the objects remain where he placed them. The villa is a protected building of national significance.

Highlights

• Villa Carlsro from 1896 with preserved halls, spiral staircase and Arabia tiled stoves
• Basic exhibition in Åke Weckström’s spirit from the 1960s
• Starcks torp with a police cell from the Prohibition era, a pharmacy interior and workplaces
• Carriage shed with the town’s festival carriage and firefighting equipment
• Location by Storträsket with park and café

Permanent exhibitions

• Basutställningen i Villa Carlsro – The exhibition in the main building shows the ground-floor halls in unchanged condition, including the dining room, the gentlemen’s smoking room and the ladies’ salon, and on the upper floor the guest and hotel rooms and theme rooms.
• Starcks torp – The permanent exhibitions present the history of Kristinestad, with a police cell from the Prohibition era, a pharmacy interior from the late 19th century, and workshops for a goldsmith, a shoemaker, a harness maker and a saddlery factory.

Founded

1961

Operated by

Kristinestads stad

Admission & discounts

Free admission for members of the Carlsro support association, museum employees, and holders of a press card or Museokortti (Finnish Museum Card); Museokortti can be bought at the ticket desk. Many events have free admission.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: not available
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The buildings on the site can be difficult to enter with reduced mobility: there are steps, thresholds and uneven ground. A flight of steps without a handrail leads to the entrance of the main building. The indoor exhibition spaces have subdued lighting. There are no reserved parking spaces for people with reduced mobility. If you need support, please contact the museum in advance.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is by Storträsket, about five kilometres north of Kristinestad.

Amenities & dining

• Café

Café on the museum grounds. The toilets are outdoor privies, and rainwater or lake water is used for handwashing.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit