Kristinehamn’s city centre has everything from the golden age of railways and industrial history to contemporary architecture. The three architectural walks show different parts of this journey – with buildings, streets, churches and bridges that tell the story of the city’s development. Let your eyes wander and discover the small details that bring history to life.
Lion head on the facade of the Morabyrån.
The town hall, built in 1805, also served as a hospital and police station.
Tour 1
Kristinehamn: where the houses whisper stories
Join us on a walk through the city centre, where grand temple buildings, villas and traces of the industrial and railway eras meet. Along the way, you will find buildings with both character and surprising details – from facades and bridges to signs and sculptures. The silver plaques give you brief glimpses of history right on the spot, and in some places you will find larger signs that tell a more detailed story.
Click on the map to find the walk. By clicking on each object, you can see more images, both new and historical, of the buildings and places.
Travel centre / Railway station
When Kristinehamn station was inaugurated in 1866, it was with fireworks and a gala dinner in the Assembly House. The beautiful two-storey building was then the centre of a vibrant travel scene. Surrounding it were locomotive sheds, goods warehouses and carriage sheds – a small railway town within the city.
The station became the hub for both the North-West Main Line and the Inland Line. However, it was not until 1993 that the building regained its original exterior, thanks to SJ’s careful restoration. Today, it is difficult not to be fascinated by how much of Sweden’s railway history began right here in Kristinehamn.
Norra verken (Dalavägen 23)
On Dalavägen, the red brick buildings that were once the heart of Sweden’s railway development stand tall. Christinehamns Jernvägs Werkstad was established here in 1849 – the same year that the railway to Sjöändan was put into service. This is where locomotives and carriages were serviced, repaired and manufactured. In 1856, a larger workshop was built, part of which still stands today.
Over time, this became Christinehamns Mekaniska Werkstad – a melting pot for technology and inventiveness. Ideas that changed the world were born here: Viktor Kaplan’s water turbine took its first shape here, and the 1930s saw the birth of the world-famous KaMeWa propeller.
It is difficult not to feel the echoes of history when passing these buildings – it is as if the brick walls still whisper of innovation and industrial pride.
Fabriksgatan 9
On a street dominated by wooden houses, this plastered villa stands out as an elegant exception. The house was built in 1870 on a plot that was then on the outskirts of the city – but it was here, along the so-called Staketgatorna (Fence streets), that Kristinehamn first began to grow beyond its old centre.
The villa covers a total of 300 square metres – and that’s not including the garage, basement or ancillary rooms. Note the beautiful cast patterns on the entrance doors – a detail you can see in several places in the city centre. So keep your eyes open – these little gems are often found where you least expect them.
Tingshuset, Kungsgatan 19
Like a classical Greek temple in the middle of a small town, the bright courthouse from 1883 stands tall. The courthouse for Ölme, Visnum and Väse districts was designed by the renowned architects Axel and Hjalmar Kumlien, who also left their mark on Marieberg Hospital and the Stadshotellet.
At the rear of the building is a semicircular apse where the old courtroom was located. On the wall, Karl XV’s motto is still painted in gold: “Land skall med lag byggas” (Land shall be built with by law)– a reminder of the power of the law, signed by the city’s then master painter August Lundgren.
Today, the building is privately owned and used as an office, but its monumental form still speaks of justice, tradition and architecture with ambition.
Rådhuset, Kungsgatan 25
Planning for the current town hall began after the devastating city fire of 1777. The plans were approved by Gustav IV Adolf, and the building was completed in 1805 – however at a new location, on Norra torget.
Behind the stylish exterior lies a rich history: town hall, hospital, mayor’s residence, telegraph station and police station. The small house in the courtyard behind was even used as a detention centre. Here, stories of power, everyday life and times of need come together in one and the same building.
Today, the building is used by the Bergslagens Artillery Regiment, which moved in with both its personnel and its history. The northern square in front of the building was once the site of market life, fish trading and even a tennis court, set up by the Geijer family.
Kungsbron
Kungsbron is one of the city’s oldest bridges, with roots dating back to the 17th century when it was built in wood. After the great fire of 1777, it was rebuilt in stone – and that is the bridge we walk across today.
Take a close look at the stone arches and the simple anchor joints that hold the structure together – these small details reveal the building techniques of the time. You will see more anchor joints on buildings in the city – and the shapes vary depending on the period they are from.
Did you know that Kristinehamn is one of the towns with the most bridges in central Sweden? There are 48 bridges here – from the historic Kungsbron to the modern Parkbron.
Morabyrån, Kungsgatan 32
When Jacques Wallner, traffic director of the Inlandsbanan, returned home from the World Exhibition in Paris in 1889, he was full of impressions. These took shape in Morabyrån, a building unlike any other in Kristinehamn – inspired by the Paris Opera House, with all its glory and pomp.
The building was constructed in 1895, designed by architect Carl Österman. Here, the new renaissance staircase coexists with towers, lion heads, half columns and meander patterns – a true fairy-tale house in the heart of the city.
The building was long used as an administrative building for the Mora-Venern and Östra Värmland railways, and is now classified as one of Värmland’s most remarkable buildings.
Träslottet, Tullportsgatan 11
This large timber building was constructed after the city fire of 1777, originally as an inn. At that time, it was located on what is now Södra torget (South Square), but when Stadshotellet was built, Träslottet was moved to its current location.
The building is U-shaped and has features typical of its era. Take a closer look at the oval windows with small roofs above them – an architectural detail that recurs in several older houses in Kristinehamn.
Today, the building houses a restaurant, offices and apartments – but it still retains the feeling of being a place where people meet and pass through, just as it did in the past.
The walk now continues along Tullportsgatan back towards the Travel Centre. But feel free to take a detour, sit down for a while, or pop into one of the shops or cafés that share the city’s historic buildings. You’re not just following in footsteps – you’re wandering through living history.
Inside Statt is Kristinasalen – a grand and beautiful banquet hall.
The cobblestones and beautiful wooden houses on Trädgårdsgatan are reminiscent of the period after the fire of 1777.
Tour 2
Farms, churches and old streets
Here you will find a city in transition, where new meets old. Discover places where the iron market was transformed into a dance floor and where an old church still lives in the cobblestones. The walk also takes you past more historic buildings, bridges and sculptures – many marked with silver plaques that share little stories from Kristinehamn’s history.
Click on the map to find the walk. By clicking on each object, you can see more images, both new and historical, of the buildings and places.
Krukmakeriet, Gamla Kyrkogatan 16
After the great fire of 1893, the entire shopping street, Kungsgatan, was in ruins. The need for new premises was urgent, and so this simple building with three small shops was constructed. It was intended to be a temporary solution, but the building still stands today.
The house was called “The Bazaar” and over the years everything from meat and fruit to cigars, yarn and handmade cards has been sold here. Look for the three entrance doors and the three attic windows – they tell the story of the house’s origins as three in one.
Today, it houses a shop, café and pottery studio – but you are standing in front of a building that has had many faces.
Stadshotellet, Kungsgatan 27
With its clean lines and elegant details, Stadshotellet is a prime example of new renaissance architecture. Built in 1878 and designed by brothers Axel and Hjalmar Kumlien – the same architects who designed Tingshuset and Marieberg Hospital.
Here you will find Kristinasalen – one of Sweden’s most beautiful banquet halls – with enormous chandeliers, an orchestra loft, and a ceiling so richly decorated that it was probably what led to the building being listed as a historic monument in 1985. The ceiling features two portraits painted in oil. They are said to depict the children of the first cellar master.
The Träslottet, the town’s old inn, once stood on the grounds in front of the house. It was moved, but Stadshotellet and its restaurant remain as a meeting place for all Kristinehamn residents and visitors.
Assemblégatan, korsningen Nya Kyrkogatan
The street’s name honours a significant building. This was the site of the Assembléhuset, the city’s main gathering place and home to the iron exchange, once a year from 1786 to the mid-19th century. ‘Assembler’ means gathering in French (the language in vogue at the time).
Jonas Alströmer came here, and it was here that the Värmland Housekeeping Society, the Vänern Navigation Board and the Wermland Provincial Bank were founded. Nils Ericsson presented his railway plans here – in a building that served as both a business hub and an entertainment venue. Upstairs, up to 300 guests from the industrial society danced on the rough plank floor.
When the great era of iron came to an end, the house lost its role. It burned down in 1955 – but the name lives on, like a whisper of the importance the place once had.
Kyrkan, Nya Kyrkogatan 1
When Kristinehamn Church was completed in 1858, the town was growing. The new church was located outside the old town walls, which ran along Norra, Södra, Östra and Västra Staketgatorna. The new church was designed by Professor C.G. Brunius, and its style is clearly gothic.
Inside the church, however, older times live on. The baptismal font dates from the 13th century, the triumphal crucifix from the 14th century, and there are textiles and silverware from several centuries. Much of this was moved here from the town’s old wooden church.
There is a small museum in the choir loft, and the church is open to visitors most days. Here, many eras meet in peaceful tranquillity.
Paving at Brogårdsskolan, Gamlal Kyrkogatan 2
Here, in the middle of the schoolyard, the town’s old wooden church has been recreated using paving stones. If you stand by the plaque – which marks the choir – and look towards the river, you can see the outline of the church in front of you. It was a cross-shaped church and one of the few buildings that survived the fire of 1777. The street leading from the schoolyard to the square was first called Kyrkogatan (Church Street), but when the new church was completed, the name was changed to Gamla Kyrkogatan (Old Church Street).
The stonework is a quiet reminder of how history lives on, even when it is no longer visible above ground.
Hasselbladsgården, corner of Gamla Kyrkogatan and Österlånggatan
This is one of the city’s last remaining examples of a courtyard farmhouse. The timber house, with its yellow panelling facing the street and Falun red panelling facing the courtyard, was built in the early 19th century and painted in a typical style in different colours. The granite base gives the house weight – literally.
Many people have lived here, traded here, and told more stories than one can imagine. The market vendors and the candy seller ‘Plutta’ are said to have lived here. There have been many shops on the corner, including ‘Elis på hörnan’, a popular shop among the residents of Kristinehamn.
Sockerslottet, Norra Staketgatan 8
What is now a café, hotel and praline factory began its life as a Baptist church. Designed by Jakobsson & Eriksson in Sundsvall, inspired by the pointed shapes of new-gothic architecture, it was completed in 1892.
Here there was a church hall, a baptismal font and accommodation for both the caretaker and the evangelist.
When the parish merged with Broängskyrkan, the activities were discontinued.
But the house was given a new purpose – through sugar and care – and a new name: Sockerslottet (the Sugar Castle).
Trädgårdsgatan
Stop and admire the beautiful courtyard and main entrance with its balcony and columns on the red wooden building. Then turn right around the corner onto Trädgårdsgatan.
This street tells the story of life after the fire of 1777. Cobblestones, two-storey wooden houses and architecture reminiscent of the first reconstruction of the bourgeois city.
No. 10: One of the city’s oldest timber houses, built with heartwood. Ellika Larsdotter lived here – she ran a popular tavern, but was tragically sentenced to death for the murder of a child.
On the other side of the cobbled street is a park, and beyond that flows the River Varnan. At the water’s edge, you can see steps that were used when washing was rinsed in the water.
Finally, cross Kungsbron until you are back at Södra torget.
The Salvation Army’s castle.
The Vågen and Varnan neighbourhood.
Tour 3
From the town’s Stone Age to the steel bridge
This route takes you from Kristinehamn’s oldest stone buildings to modern architecture and bridge construction. Along Kungsgatan and further south, you will encounter both well-known landmarks and small details that tell the story of the city’s development. Keep an eye out for silver plaques and oval signs that provide extra context during your walk.
Click on the map to find the walk. By clicking on each object, you can see more images, both new and historical, of the buildings and places.
A.G. Petersson’s house, Kungsgatan 31
After the fire in 1893, which destroyed the entire shopping street (i.e. Kungsgatan), the street was widened and stone buildings began to be constructed.
Architect Carl Österman designed Kungsgatan 31, which has distinct horizontal mouldings and was built on solid pile foundations. The adjacent building on the corner, also known as Kjellman’s Corner, was not built on piles and sank so much that the bottom step disappeared! That building had to be demolished, but A.G. Petersson’s property still stands today and is sometimes called ‘Tidningspelles hus’ (Newspaper Pelle’s House) because the editorial office of the Kristinehamns-tidningen newspaper was located here for a time.
The building where Oliveriet restaurant is located, Kungsgatan 48
This house was completed in 1895 and proudly displays its year of construction on the facade. It was once home to Pettersson’s confectionery shop, renowned for its fabulously beautiful and lavish interior and delicious sweets. Rumour has it that parts of the interior remain, hidden behind newer walls. Potatoes are said to have been grown on the adjacent plot!
Today, you can enjoy Italian delicacies at the restaurant.
In the pavement in front of the building, diagonally to the north, you can see a buoy with a fluttering sail in cobblestones. This is a nod to the buoy featured in Kristinehamn’s coat of arms, which was created when Queen Christina granted the town its municipal privileges in 1642.
The Salvation Army Castle, Spelmansgatan 23
After the fire in 1893, the Salvation Army built a new house – in stone, for safety’s sake. The result was a building in Scottish medieval style, with stepped gables and small ‘towers’ with parapets. The style was appreciated by the English bourgeoisie at that time. The house really has the character of a safe little castle.
Since 1977, modern meeting rooms and a café have been located within the sturdy walls.
Parkbron, the bridge between the Vågen neighbourhood and Stadsparken
Old wooden piles, probably from the 19th-century iron harbour, were found at the site where the bridge was built. The discovery delayed construction somewhat, but the bridge was opened in the summer of 2020. Many residents of Kristinehamn had opinions about its design and style, but outside the city it has been highly praised and was named Sweden’s best steel project in 2021. The bridge also competed internationally, but without success.
The bridge beautifully connects the guest harbour and the town centre – and with its 48 bridges, Kristinehamn remains one of the most bridge-dense municipalities in central Sweden.
Sjötullen, Hovslagareg 6
The name is reminiscent of the old customs house that was located closer to the river, where goods were unloaded – not least spirits, as the spirits warehouse was right next door.
The current building was constructed after the fire in 1804 in a style known as Swedish Classicism. The builder was Johan Carl Gerneij. He was a lawyer and member of the Academy of Sciences. He was also director of all pig iron smelting.
The property consists of several buildings, and the one located right next to Hovslagaregatan has an oil-coloured street side and a Falun red courtyard side, which tells the story of a classic way to save money: a nice exterior and a simpler interior. There are several buildings in Kristinehamn with two facade colours. Keep an eye out for them.
Nordenfeldtska huset, Norra Hamngatan 8
Kristinehamn’s oldest stone house is a real historical gem! It was built by Regina Nordenfeldt in 1771, after the previous wooden building was destroyed by fire.
In the same location, Duke Karl had a royal estate built as early as the 1570s. Part of the cellar contains old vaults that may date back to that period.
Once home to the city’s elite, it later became a poorhouse. Today, the building has been carefully renovated by private owners.
With its broken roof and curved gables, the house has withstood both fires and the ravages of time.
Wahlundsgården, Västerlånggatan 22
A farm with many lives: first built in the 17th century, burned down in 1777, rebuilt and then burned down again in 1804. The current house was rebuilt in 1806. Gustaf Wahlund eventually acquired the farm and it was he who had the house clad in wood and adorned with both a balcony and a front gable.
This place is said to be haunted! An Indian princess is said to have been kept in a coffin in the attic. The coffin is believed to have been placed there by a man who worked for the East India Company.
The house was saved from demolition in the 1960s and now stands proudly, with a new slate roof installed in 2004. A roof that we hope will adorn the house for another 200 years.
Torgkällan, Södra torget
In the 19th century, the water in the well was poor quality – but in 1847, confectioner P.G. Lundgren took matters into his own hands. He had a water pipe built from hollowed-out logs from Kullkällan to the market square. A technical marvel!
In 1881, Torgkällan got its current look and another cool thing was added, a modern steam-powered water pump donated by engineer Harald Asplund at Kristinehamns Mekaniska Verkstad. Torgkällan was the main place for townspeople to get water until the early 1900s. Contemporaries described this marvel with the words, “It has three spouts, which fill the vessel instantly when you press the button.”
It is believed that this is the very pump that Gustaf Fröding wrote about in his poem ‘Torgpumpen’ (The Market Square Pump).
Now you are back at Södra Torget. We hope you enjoyed your walk and took in many historical and architectural sights.