Westmanska vagnmuseet

About the museum

The association Vallavagnarnas vänner (Friends of the Valla Carriages) was formed in 1991 by people interested in horses and culture in the Linköping area, with the aim, among others, of creating a carriage museum at Valla. The association applied for funds from the Westman-Wernerska fonden (Westman-Werner Fund), and the museum was designed by Lennart Svendén and built by pupils at Anders Ljungstedts gymnasium (upper secondary school). It was completed in the autumn of 1993.

The museum’s collection of vehicles comprises about 50 carriages and 15 sleighs, and some of them are shown in period settings. Here are, among others, the large basket sleigh with a coachman’s box and vis-à-vis seats, the vurst (a family carriage) used in the later part of the 19th century, and many gigs. The museum owns carriages that the association restores and cares for on a voluntary basis, and there are also deposited carriages, for example from the Östergötland County Agricultural Society and from Stångebro Vagnfabrik (carriage works).

Every year on Ascension Day a carriage parade is held in memory of Henric Westman, a tradition since 1993. For children there is a small children’s corner with ponies to ride.

Highlights

• About 50 carriages and 15 sleighs
• Large basket sleigh with a coachman’s box and vis-à-vis seats
• Vurst, a family carriage from the later 19th century
• Carriages from Stångebro Vagnfabrik
• Annual carriage parade on Ascension Day

Permanent exhibition

• Vagnar och slädar i tidstypisk miljö – About 50 carriages and 15 sleighs, some of them shown in period settings, including a basket sleigh, a vurst and gigs.

Founded

1993

Operated by

Vallavagnarnas vänner

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission to the open-air museum area and almost all activities; a fee is charged for some events and activities.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations

Children’s corner with small ponies to ride. Valla farm also has Linköping’s largest play park, Lill-Valla, and the family trail Upptäck Valla gård during Tidernas sommar.

Getting there & parking

The museum is at Valla farm in the rural part of the open-air museum Gamla Linköping, about 2 km west of central Linköping. Follow the signs to Valla gård at Vallarondellen.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit