Gäsene tingshus

About the museum

Gäsene courthouse was built following a decision by the King in 1774 and was brought into use on 2 October 1776. Originally the building had one storey, but in 1823 a wooden upper floor was added and the court’s session hall was moved up a flight of stairs. A veranda from 1898 was demolished during the restoration in 1957. The house was used as the court venue for the Gäsene hundred (härad) until 4 December 1947, when the hundred was merged into the newly formed Borås judicial district (domsaga).

Gäsene Municipality bought the courthouse, and plans existed to convert it for municipal administration or to demolish it. Gäsene Local Heritage and Antiquities Association (Gäsene Hembygds- och Fornminnesförening) was formed on 9 December 1953 to preserve the house, and in 1957 the municipality handed over the management to the Gäsene Tingshus Foundation (Stiftelsen Gäsene Tingshus). The ground floor retains its original design from 1776 and is today a court museum, where most of the interior is original. It contains the old courtroom, the district judge’s room (häradshövdingens rum), the guard room and the district lock-up (häradshäktet). In 1898 a prisoner sawed his way up through the ceiling of his cell and escaped, and the hole can still be seen. The upper floor is a modern party and conference venue.

Highlights

• Courtroom from 1776 with genuine interior
• The district judge’s room and the guard room
• The district lock-up, with graffiti on the walls and the hole in the ceiling
• One of Sweden’s oldest preserved courthouses
• 250th anniversary in 2026

Permanent exhibition

• Tingsmuseet – The old courtroom from 1776 with original interior, the district judge’s room, the guard room and the district lock-up.

Operated by

Stiftelsen Gäsene Tingshus

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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 party and conference floor on the upper floor has a hearing loop.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The courthouse is at Tingshusplan, Stationsvägen 15 in Ljung.

Amenities & dining

The party and conference floor has Wi-Fi for hirers.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 100 guests.

The party and conference floor has a large hall for up to 100 people and a smaller one for 15, with a serving kitchen, projector, sound system, hearing loop and blackout curtains. Booking via bokning@gasenetingshus.se or 072-745 00 87.

Plan your visit