Friluftsmuseet Gamla Linköping

About the museum

During the 1940s Linköping grew rapidly, partly thanks to Saab’s aircraft manufacturing, and many old houses in the city centre were demolished to make way for modern housing and wider streets. The idea of an open-air museum to which houses could be moved and saved then emerged. In the mid-1940s, municipal politician Lennart Sjöberg proposed a “Skansen för Östergötland” (a Skansen for Östergötland), and the area was named Gamla Linköping.

The museum lies on land divided off from Valla gård and bequeathed to the town by its last owner, Henric Westman. Construction really got going in the 1950s, when the wave of demolitions in central Linköping was at its height. Today there are about 125 buildings, most of them moved from other parts of the town and the surrounding area.

The town quarters show what a small Swedish town could look like at the start of the 20th century, with buildings from different periods and social classes. The oldest houses survived the great fire of 1700; the youngest dates from the 1940s. From the outset the idea was that the area should not just be a museum but a living district, with craft shops, eateries and homes, as well as a leisure area with a rural setting, animals, a play park and space for picnics.

Highlights

• Town quarter with about 125 buildings from different periods
• Museum settings and craft shops in old wooden houses
• Valla gård with animals, park and gardens
• The Tuff-tuff-tåget (Tuff-tuff train) between the town quarters and Valla gård
• Tidernas sommar (Summer of the Ages) with daily activities
• LasseMajas Deckarhus

Operated by

Linköpings kommun

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission to the area and almost all activities. A charge is made for some events and activities, for example horse-and-cart rides, the Tuff-tuff train, Fenomenmagasinet and LasseMajas Deckarhus. Parking is charged.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

Many cobbled streets have walkways with a smoother surface, and several buildings have ramps, some of them mobile ramps that need to be ordered in advance. Some buildings have lifts. Accessible toilets are available in several places, induction loops in some lecture rooms, and wheelchair-accessible picnic tables. The forest path in Vallaskogen (1.2 km, with seven stations for sight, touch and hearing) and the experience garden Täppan are adapted for people with disabilities. The website has easy-read pages.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Playground / play area

The area has a rural part with animals, a play park and a place for picnics. During Tidernas sommar activities are arranged every day, and the Tuff-tuff train runs between the town quarters and Valla gård during the summer half-year.

Getting there & parking

The open-air museum is about 2 km west of central Linköping. From the E4 there is signage for “Gamla Linköping” from exit 111. The visitor centre is at Tunnbindaregatan 8.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Including Dahlbergs café and Wärdshuset; craft shops and eateries in the houses. Packed lunches can be eaten at picnic tables in several places.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Several settings can be used for weddings, meetings and events.

Plan your visit