Vänersborgs museum

About the museum

Vänersborgs museum has existed since 1885 and is regarded as one of the country's oldest preserved museum settings. The museum building was erected the same year to designs by the architect August Krüger, and both exterior and interior have remained almost unchanged since the 19th century. The initiator was the merchant Johan Adolf Andersohn, who wanted to bring the world to Vänersborg.

Like a national museum in miniature, the museum houses international collections of natural and cultural history from several parts of the world. Particularly well known is the unique collection of birds and mammals from Namibia, gathered by the zoologist and merchant Axel W Eriksson. The museum also shows archaeological objects from ancient Egypt, glass and ceramics, a permanent art exhibition with works from the 17th to the 19th centuries, Nordic animals from Vänersborgs läroverk (Vänersborg grammar school) and a comprehensive collection of seed samples of Swedish crop plants.

The house also contains an authentic caretaker's flat and a room with the original furniture from the poet Birger Sjöberg's study in Helsingborg. The museum's own history and its connection with the ideas and science of the 19th century are shown in a special exhibition, and the exhibition about Brätte tells the story of Vänersborg's predecessor. The museum is part of the Västra Götalandsregionens kulturförvaltning (Culture Administration of Västra Götaland Region).

Highlights

• Museum building from 1885 with preserved original interior
• The African bird hall (Afrikanska fågelsalen) with the Namibia collection
• The Egyptian Cabinet
• The exhibition Brätte – staden som försvann (Brätte, the town that disappeared)
• The Birger Sjöberg room and the caretaker's flat
• Torpet, a play and learning environment for children

Permanent exhibitions

• Brätte – Staden som försvann – Vänersborgs föregångare – Exhibition on the medieval town of Brätte, which grew up at the Vassända market place, how people lived there and how the town was moved, with traces of the town that can be visited today.
• Tidsresan – en resa till 1800-talet – Introduction to the late 19th century, when the museum came into being, with a focus on industrialisation, urbanisation and emigration.
• Afrikanska fågelsalen – Collection of birds and mammals from Namibia, gathered by Axel W Eriksson, including flamingo, secretary bird and porcupine.

Founded

1885

Operated by

Västra Götalandsregionen, Kulturförvaltningen

Admission & discounts

Day ticket SEK 70. Free admission also for teachers accompanying pupils from pre-school to university, and for members of ICOM and Sveriges museer on presentation of a valid card.

Accessibility

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

Lift to the first and second floors and the basement; two smaller half-levels are reached only by stairs. The accessible entrance is at the back of the museum, where you ring the entry-phone. A large accessible toilet with a changing table is on the basement level of the lift building. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are welcome. More information is in the Tillgänglighetsdatabasen (Accessibility Database).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly: not available
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

The Torpet is the museum's play and learning environment for children. For safety reasons, pushchairs may not be taken into the exhibitions; a limited number of places are available in the creative workshop. Children and young people under 20 enter free.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in central Vänersborg, behind the church in the Kulturaxeln, near the water tower. GPS coordinates: 58.38023, 12.32873.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Free wifi (network VGR Publikt). Eating and drinking are not allowed in the museum, nor is eating food brought from home. There is a museum shop. Larger bags and backpacks may not be brought in, and bags are not stored in the shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit