Norra berget

About the museum

The open-air museum on Norra Stadsberget started in 1906 on the initiative of Medelpads Fornminnesförening (Medelpad Antiquarian Society) under the name Fornhemmet. Its model was Skansen in Stockholm, and the site was to give the people of Sundsvall and tourists both adult education and recreation. As early as 1897 Medelpads turistförening (Medelpad Tourist Association) had built a viewing tower and a kiosk on the hill.

During the 20th century some forty historic buildings were moved there from different parts of Medelpad, among them a church storehouse from Haverö, Bredsjöstugan, Gullgårdsstugan, a smithy, a skvaltkvarn (a simple water mill) and a water sawmill. The houses are shown from the outside, and at some houses there are small steps or ladders so that visitors can look in through the windows. Signs explain the history of the buildings and state that the selection of stories reflects its own time.

The association handed over operations to Sundsvall Municipality in 2001, and since 2010 the open-air museum has been run by Sundsvalls museum. Today the municipality is responsible for both the open-air museum and the Norra Stadsberget nature reserve. The area is one of Sundsvall’s most popular visitor attractions, with rare livestock, cultivated fields, a play area, barbecue areas, shops, cafés, a restaurant and a youth hostel, and many associations and companies are active in the buildings.

Highlights

• About 40 moved cultural-historical buildings from Medelpad
• Rare livestock breeds that are outside all year round
• The viewing tower Glasspinnen with a view over Sundsvall
• Christmas market in a historic setting
• The Hantverks- och sjöfartsmuseet (crafts and maritime museum) with the stuffed skvader

Permanent exhibition

• Friluftsmuseet – About 40 historic buildings from different places in Medelpad, which visitors can walk around and look at with the help of signs telling the history of the buildings.

Founded

1906

Operated by

Sundsvalls kommun (Sundsvalls museum)

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• 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

There are several accessible toilets, including at Tunet. Disabled parking spaces are at the large car park closest to the Odlingarna (cultivated fields), at Restaurang Grankotten and the viewing tower, at Vinfabriken, the Hantverks- och sjöfartsmuseet and the Skyttepaviljongen. The buildings are mainly viewed from the outside, and the area lies on rough terrain on a hill.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Playground / play area

There is a play area and Norrgården (Children’s Farm), and the rare livestock can be visited. School programmes are offered.

Getting there & parking

At the foot of the hill, at the start of Baldersvägen, a staircase leads up to Norra Berget.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Café Gesällen, Café Smakrummet, Restaurang Grankotten and Butik Smakrummet; the youth hostel Gaffelbyn is on the site. Public toilets at Tunet, the Skyttepaviljongen and Östbergsgården. Barbecue areas at Tunet (bring your own wood or charcoal).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit