Huseby bruk

About the museum

Huseby bruk is one of Småland’s most important cultural heritage sites and one of the country’s best-preserved ironworks environments. The ironworks was established in 1628, and the blast furnace has stood on the works hill since the mid-17th century. During the 1800s Huseby was counted as one of Småland’s largest estates. The Counts Hamilton had the present manor house, known as the slottet (castle), built in the 1840s, along with a row of houses for their permanent workers along Bruksgatan.

The Stephens family took over in 1867, when Joseph Stephens bought the works. His daughter Florence Stephens was born here in 1881 and lived in the castle until her death in 1979. She wanted the home to be preserved as it had been during her upbringing, and so the castle has kept its interior from the late 19th century, with more than twenty rooms and a curiosities cabinet with about 5,000 objects collected by Professor George Stephens. She bequeathed the works to the state, and since 1982 Huseby has been a public visitor attraction.

On the site there are, among other things, the castle, the blast furnace with an ironworks museum, the mill with its water wheel, an electricity museum, a sawmill from the 1940s, the old smithy, workers’ housing, a park and garden, the Archimedesskruven (Archimedes screw) and the Husebymaden. The whole area is a protected historic building. The public activities are run by Huseby Bruk AB, a municipal company owned by Alvesta and Växjö municipalities, and the year’s activities end with a large Christmas fair in November.

Highlights

• Untouched castle from 1844 with interiors from the late 19th century
• The curiosities cabinet with about 5,000 objects
• The ironworks from 1628 and the blast furnace
• Water-driven mill and sawmill from the 1940s
• The whole works environment is a protected historic building

Permanent exhibitions

• Slottet – The untouched castle has more than twenty rooms with furniture and objects from the late 19th century, and the curiosities cabinet with about 5,000 objects.
• Sågen och Glömda skogen – The exhibition shows the development of the southern Swedish forest and the role of the sawmill in the history of the works.
• Järnbruket och bruksmiljön – The tour tells of iron production since 1628, the blast furnace and the people who worked at the works.

Founded

1982

Operated by

Huseby Bruk AB

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• 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 area and buildings are protected cultural monuments and are therefore not adapted for rollators, wheelchairs or pushchairs, which for fire-safety reasons may not be taken into the castle. The guided tour of Glömda Skogen is not adapted for disabled people. Accessible toilets are in Gamla Smedjan, Stallet, the restaurant and Magasinet. Contact Huseby for disability adaptations or disabled parking.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly: not available

Family walks in Glömda Skogen about the creatures of folklore, and a trip about birds and nest boxes, are aimed at children. Pushchairs may not be taken into the castle for fire-safety reasons.

Getting there & parking

Huseby bruk lies 22 km south-west of Växjö along road 23 between Växjö and Malmö. The Fjordrundan, a signposted 32 km cycle route around the northern part of the Åsnen area, passes the works.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Elisabeths Trädgård Restaurang & Café is in the old dairy, and Stallet is an inn and party venue. Gamla Smedjan houses tourist information and a shop; the works shop was last closed for renovation. Visitors may eat their own packed lunch at the tables in the area.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Stallet is a conference and party venue for larger groups.

Plan your visit