Åminne bruksmuseum
Ironworks museum at a preserved ironworks south of Värnamo, with a blast furnace, foundry and an exhibition on lake ore and iron production.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Åminne bruk was founded in 1826 by the lagman (provincial judge) Carl Danckwardt at Åminne farm, a little over six kilometers west of the present ironworks village. The works began with a blast furnace that smelted lake ore from the nearby lakes Bolmen and Vidöstern, and in 1833 a bar iron works was added. In 1899 iron production moved to Åminne by the lake Vidöstern, where an ironworks village and a railway grew up around the operation.
The blast furnace was blown for the last time in 1934, and the foundry was in operation into the 1990s. The well-preserved blast furnace and foundry have survived, and the area is of national interest for cultural heritage conservation and has been a listed building since 2006. Renovations have been partly funded by the County Administrative Board and followed up by the county museum.
Today Åminne Bruk is run by the association Åminne Bruksmuseum. For more than ten years the association has built up a museum explaining the processing of lake ore, blast furnace operation and foundry work. The association also organizes art exhibitions, concerts, film screenings and lectures, and premises at the site are rented out for private and company events.
Highlights
- Well-preserved blast furnace, in use until 1934
- The foundry with the exhibition “Smålands slumrande millioner” (“Småland’s Slumbering Millions”)
- The history of lake ore and iron production at Åminne
- Kolladan (charcoal store), the best-preserved south of the Dalälven river
- Site of national interest and listed building by Lake Vidöstern
Permanent exhibitions
- Smålands slumrande millioner – Exhibition in the foundry’s core-making shop on the history of lake ore and iron processing at Åminne.
- Masugnen och gjuteriet – The preserved blast furnace and foundry show how iron was processed at the ironworks.
- Operated by
- Föreningen Åminne Bruksmuseum
Admission & discounts
| Adults | SEK 50 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Children and young people under 18 enter free of charge. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –Assistants with Pluspolare membership enter free of charge. |
Admission for adults is SEK 50 and includes the art exhibition.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- 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 whole site is not yet fully accessible, and visitors are asked to contact the museum in advance. The event hall Verkstadsvinden is reached by lift, and there is an accessible toilet there.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
Large gravel car park south of the site. There are also 14 pitches for motorhomes (not caravans) and charging points with six charging connections via the ChargeNode app.
Åminne Bruk is about 7 km south of Värnamo. From road 27, turn off towards Hånger, or follow the signs to Åminne through Värnamo.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Museum shop with books about the works, postcards, works honey, lake ore in glass jars and other souvenirs.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
The event hall (Verkstadsvinden) and other premises at the site can be rented; bookings via boka@aminnebruk.se.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Museum hosts are on site during the summer opening hours and show visitors around. Private viewings can be booked outside opening hours. |
