Naturum Tåkern
Naturum at the bird lake Tåkern in the Glänås visitor area, with a permanent exhibition, film room, lab room and bird tower; the building is clad in reed and admission is free.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Naturum Tåkern is located on the southern shore of Tåkern in south-western Östergötland and functions as the visitor centre for the nature reserve and the bird lake. It is one of Sweden’s naturum centres, all of which follow the joint guidelines of Naturvårdsverket (the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency) and have the task of guiding visitors through the nature and culture of their area.
The building was designed by the architects Gert Wingårdh and Jonas Edblad and was inaugurated on 25 May 2012. The roof and walls are clad in reed from Tåkern, which has earned it the nickname Sweden’s reediest naturum. Good accessibility and a strong environmental profile were important goals when the building was constructed.
Naturum is owned by Naturvårdsverket and run by Länsstyrelsen Östergötland (Östergötland County Administrative Board). Operations include exhibitions, film, guided walks and activities for children and families during the season. Outdoors, in the surrounding visitor area, there are bird towers, hiking trails, a fairy-tale trail and a nature playground.
Highlights
- Building clad in reed, designed by Wingårdh’s architects
- Permanent exhibition on Tåkern’s nature, birds and history
- Film room with films about Tåkern
- Lab room with microscopes and small creatures
- Accessible bird tower and Princess Estelle’s fairy-tale trail
Permanent exhibition
- Fast utställning om Tåkern – Exhibition on how the lake was formed, what has happened through history and life by the lake today, with birdsong, carved birds in glass display cases and a children’s section.
- Founded
- 2012
- Operated by
- Länsstyrelsen Östergötland (ägare: Naturvårdsverket)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Free admission to naturum. Some guided tours may cost a small fee according to the programme.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Both a staircase and a wide ramp with a handrail lead into naturum; the entrance doors have door openers and low thresholds. Exhibition cases and interactive parts can be used by, among others, wheelchair users, and the exhibition texts can be listened to via QR code. There is a hearing loop in the film room (it works for the films but not for lecturers), and the film about Tåkern can be shown with Swedish subtitles. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are welcome; other dogs may not come in. Accessible toilets with changing tables are available, as is parking for people with mobility impairments just under 100 metres from the entrance, and a bird tower reached via a ramp. The lakeside promenade, the fairy-tale trail and the first 600 metres of Vassleden (the reed trail) are accessible.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
- Playground / play area
Children’s section for play and drawing in the exhibition, an activity track and Tåkern’s nature playground at the car park, as well as Princess Estelle’s fairy-tale trail, about 700 metres long, for the youngest. Changing tables are available in the accessible toilets. Sweep-netting for small creatures is a popular activity.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Kyleberg · 4 km
From Mjölby resecentrum (travel centre), bus 665/664 runs towards Ödeshög/Hästholmen to the stop Kyleberg, from where it is about 4 kilometres on foot. Demand-responsive transport (närtrafik) can be booked with Östgötatrafiken on 0771-711020 at the latest two hours before departure.
By car
Free parking
Large car park for cars, buses and motorhomes; parking for people with reduced mobility is closer to naturum. A motorhome, caravan or van may stand for one night without electricity and water.
- Accessible parking
Naturum is located in the Glänås visitor area on Tåkern’s southern shore in Ödeshög Municipality, a few kilometres from exit 107 of the E4 at Väderstad. Coordinates for the car park: 58.33139, 14.82348. A small asphalt road runs around Tåkern and is suitable for cycling.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant: not available
- Museum shop
No restaurant or proper café; a small indoor coffee corner sells coffee, tea and ice cream. Barbecue sites with firewood and picnic tables are available at the car park. Small shop in naturum.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Corporate events
Rooms for meetings and conferences, and the bookable barbecue site Grillgläntan.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Nature guides present the exhibition and lead guided walks, sweep-netting for small creatures and other activities during the season; group visits and school visits are booked in advance. The film about Tåkern’s history (about 14 minutes) is shown every quarter past and quarter to the hour, and the film Fågelvår vid Tåkern (about 12 minutes) every full and half hour. Binoculars can be borrowed free of charge. Outdoors there is unstaffed nature information all year round, for example the hand-cranked vevmojänger. |
