Wadköping is a living open-air museum in Örebro where you can walk around in beautiful historical environments. Here you will find picturesque houses and alleys, craft shops, a restaurant, bakery, café and museum.
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Wadköping
Wadköping shows a picture of what Örebro might have looked like in the past. The name of the neighbourhood comes from the book "Markurells i Wadköping", written by the Swedish author Hjalmar Söderberg.
Wadköping is located in the centre of Örebro, opposite Stora Holmen.
A cycling trip to Wadköping
After our visit to Västerås, we continued to Örebro, which is less than 10 kilometres southwest of Västerås. We searched, using the app CamperContact, set up a site at Alnängsbadet in Örebro. You can park your campervan here for 24 hours free of charge, and there are rubbish collection facilities and toilets. As well as being a nice spot by a bathing area, the site is in a good location for cycling trips into Örebro.
Visiting Wadköping
Wadköping is an open-air museum open all year round. Museum premises and shops may have different opening hours depending on the season (and the pandemic) but regardless of the location, you can always stroll the alleys.
When we were here, several shops, including the bakery, were open while some of the museum premises were closed. By the way, we had to leave the electric bikes outside ... in Wadköping you are only welcome on foot!
Stepping into this small 'town' is like stepping into another time. Here you can see exactly how people might have lived and worked, and you can read about different family stories on the signs next to the houses.
Markurells in Wadköping
'Markurells i Wadköping' is a 1919 novel by Hjalmar Bergman, often perceived as a comedy, but with dark undertones. The entire book takes place over the course of a single day, 6 June 1913.
The book revolves around the innkeeper Markurell and his concern that his son Johan will not pass his school exams. In order to solve the dilemma, Markurell plans to bribe the school's management with a scholarship, but at the same time Markurell learns that the Chief Justice is Johan's real father.
Today's Wadköping
Today's Wadköping is inspired by the fictional Wadköping, while at the same time showing a large dose of real history and many houses that existed in different places in the neighbourhood. It is really wonderful to walk around in these environments!
When we were here, most of the exhibition centres were closed due to the pandemic, so there is usually more to see. These include the childhood home of cookbook author Cajsa Warg, the Hjalmar Bergman Museum and the School Museum.
Various events and markets are also organised in Wadköping. These include puppet shows and theatre.
Restaurant, bakery and shops
Wadköping is a living open-air museum where you can eat and shop. For food (and even coffee), the Gamla Örebro restaurant is the place to go. There is also the Jeremiah Bakery right by the entrance.
There are also a lot of small shops selling things like recycled items, clothes, vintage, arts and crafts, delicacies, old-fashioned sweets, toys, gifts, jewellery, blacksmithing, historical items, ceramics and organic skincare products.
We looked into a shop that looked like an old-fashioned trading post with coffee and tea, sweets and posters. So incredibly charming!
More to see and do in the neighbourhood
When you are in Wadköping, you are also within walking distance of the city centre. Örebro. This means you can take the opportunity to see Örebro Castle, stroll around the city park or perhaps climb the Svampen water tower. It's also not too far to the charming Askersund and the beautiful Stjernsund castle. It may also be worth making a trip to fine Västerås, which has a lot to offer.
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Have you been to Wadköping?
Have you been to Wadköping? Tell us about your experiences! Do you have even more tips for things to see and do in Örebro or the surrounding area?
Facts about Wadköping
- Address: Margit Palmaer alley 4
- Established: 4 June 1965
- The name: The town/museum is named after Hjalmar Bergman's fictional town of Wadköping.
- Read more: You can find more information at the museum's website and on Visit Örebro
Activities and tours
- Guide app Wadköping then and now: The app contains stories in Swedish, English, German, Finnish, Arabic, sign language and audio description. The app is available on the App Store and Google Play.
- Audio guide Children's Wadköping: The guide app also includes 'Children's Wadköping'. Here you can hear about the children's lives and there are quizzes.
- Guided tours: Under normal circumstances (non-pandemic) you can book three different tours: Historical walk of Wadköping, dramatised tour with Cajsa Warg and dramatised tour with Hjalmar Bergman.
Services and practical information
- Parking: Car parking is done in the designated area, by card, cash or the ePARK app. Bicycles and mopeds must also be parked outside Wadköping.
- Prices: Free admission. Admission to certain events.
- Toilets: Toilets/RWC and changing tables are available in the Smedjebackshuset. More toilets are available during April-September at Skepparegården. The toilets are open during the day.
- Food bag: At Lekladan there are green areas where you can have a picnic. There are also tables and chairs.
- Rules: Dogs are welcome, but must be kept on a leash. Only guide and assistance dogs are allowed in the exhibitions.
Accessibility
- Parking: Parking for cars with a special permit for the disabled is available in the visitors' car park.
- Toilets: RWC with changing table is located in Smedjebackshuset.
- Accessibility: Some streets and alleys are paved with paving stones, gravel or cobblestones. Paved footpaths can be found on Kungstorget, Vävaregården, Tenngjutaregården, Skomakaregården, Handskmakaregården and Skepparegården.
- Ramps: Fixed ramps are available to Gamla Örebro restaurant, Handelsboden, Lilla butiken, Hjalmar Bergmanmuseet, Silversmeden, Närkes träsvarvare and Lekladan. Movable ramps can be borrowed from the Historical Shop.
- Hearing loop: A portable hearing loop is available in the Theatre Barn.
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Kenneth+Risberg says:
Nice that you visited Örebro.
Close to Alnängarna there is also Naturens Hus and a large nature area, Oset and Hemfjärden.
In Wadköping there are many different events during the year (when there is no pandemic) such as Christmas markets, food markets, medieval markets with real jousting etc. All very well attended and then it is crowded in the alleys, I can say.
22 April 2021 - 6:41
Helena says:
Very nice visit! We should have sent a signal and tried to see if you had time to meet!!! It is strange, but we have almost forgotten that you can contact people in these times ... Next time!!!! Hope all is well with you!!! Thanks for the other tips too. We made our way over to Naturens hus, it was close from the car park. Nice there. Writes more about Örebro on Saturday! 🙂
22 April 2021 - 17:38
Kenneth+Risberg says:
I always have time to meet you, so if you're ever in the neighbourhood, just get in touch.
23 April 2021 - 8:03
Christian says:
Looks really cosy!
22 April 2021 - 8:07
Helena says:
Very nice! 🙂
22 April 2021 - 17:38
Lena+in+Wales+and+Spain says:
I was in Wadköping once a long time ago, but I don't remember anything about it.
However, I have read Markurells and seen some films as well. I think it was Edvin Adolfsson who was Markurell, but this was also a long time ago, but I see him in my mind. Time to reread the book or watch the film.
Happy Thursday!
22 April 2021 - 9:13
Helena says:
I haven't read it or seen the film, so maybe that's a mistake. But you know it, it feels like a real classic!
22 April 2021 - 17:39
bmlarstravellingblog says:
The summer - 19 we did much like you; lived at Alnängssjön and cycled to Wadköping, among other places. We visited Kajsa Warg's house and the school museum, so cosy!
In the summer, they had an art exhibition scattered around the city that we also walked around and looked at.
22 April 2021 - 14:36
Helena says:
Sounds nice with an art exhibition too! Alnängsbadet worked well as a stand, we thought, especially when you have a bike. Have fun!
22 April 2021 - 17:40
BP says:
What a charming and cosy little "village". Funny also that you can only use the apostle horses there. Loved the funny prohibition sign for bicycles:-)
22 April 2021 - 18:49
Helena says:
Wasn't the sign nice? 🙂
23 April 2021 - 10:28
Monica says:
Glad you came all the way here, Örebro is a nice city in the centre and Wadköping is so nice. Here in Örebro we have been on the inside of the castle because a relative was governor and lived here with his family. I think it was for 8 years. Very nice castle and nicely decorated in their accommodation as well, thought then that I could very well imagine "working" as a governor😉. She received a medal from the king and they were also here and stayed overnight, but we were not at the same time unfortunately😊, but checked the suite and what they kept for good, suited me too😌.
Then we liked the area near the castle, just to stroll around a bit and nice restaurants were available. And interesting art exhibitions in Svartån to view. And then so close to a nice village, very well organised and beautiful in Wadköping.
Nice to see your photos and that it is the same. I have lots from the inside of the castle but they may continue as private😉.
Have a good time, yes, recognise, you forget that you can meet someone outdoors, bring coffee or buy, yesterday when I suddenly got a jolt and did some nice things I realised that I am normal, haha. Saw that I was alert and fresh with a little colour on my cheeks, a new kind of happiness.
22 April 2021 - 23:22
Helena says:
How nice that you got to see the governor's residence! We got to see a bit of the castle too, but that part was not so interesting actually. Will tell you more on Saturday!
23 April 2021 - 10:30
Monica says:
Was difficult to comment so either you get it several times or not at all, did not see that it went "away" but remained all the time in the comment field.
22 April 2021 - 23:30
Helena says:
Your comment ended up (for some reason?) in the rubbish bin. I have now approved it, so I hope it will be easier next time!
23 April 2021 - 10:30
Annie - Big Little Adventures says:
Cosy place 🙂 I like these open-air museums, the old houses are so nice 🙂 When I lived in Linköping, I visited Gamla Linköping relatively often 🙂.
23 April 2021 - 11:21
Ann-Louise Paulsson says:
Haven't been there yet but would love to go there, love looking at old houses 🙂 It looks really nice!
23 April 2021 - 18:37
Lena - good for the soul says:
I haven't read the novel but have known about it for many years. However, it wasn't very long ago that I realised that there actually was a Wadköping. Even if it is a made-up town. How heavenly cosy it looks. I would like it there!
Hug Lena
24 April 2021 - 7:03
4000mil says:
What a lovely place! It makes me want to visit.
24 April 2021 - 8:55