Kronhuset (Crown House) is the oldest house in Gothenburg. Watch a glass blower at work or taste exquisite artisan chocolates. You can also find shops dedicated to pottery, glass and clocks in the small, stable-like buildings around the heritage building. The cobblestoned courtyard and low ceilings of the outbuildings give you the feeling that you have entered a bygone era.
Built between the years of 1642 and 1655 in the Dutch style, Kronhuset is an attractive combination of bright red brick walls, a pointed green copper roof and steeply arched ceilings with wooden beams inside. The building’s long history has seen it serve as a depot, a town hall, an inauguration site for kings, a museum and as the home of the Gothenburg woodwind orchestra.
While the building itself is quite a sight to behold, you will almost certainly want to spend the majority of your time exploring the lower Kronhusbodarna (outbuildings). These are connected to Kronhuset by a cobblestoned courtyard called Kronhuskvarteret, a picturesque oasis in the city. The original outbuildings were burned down in the mid-18th century, but have since been rebuilt in their old style. You’ll find numerous artisan shops tucked into small sheds that would once have been stores for artillery, food or textiles.
Shop for unique souvenirs in the glass-blowing workshop, the textile shop or the pottery shed. If you have an old timepiece you want restored, then a traditional clockmaker will happily oblige, while the leather shop offers a good range of bags, wallets and other useful items.
Have a drink with a freshly baked pastry in the popular café, which is open daily. At Christmastime, when the courtyard twinkles with lights, you can warm up with a traditional mug of glögg, a typical Swedish Christmas drink.
Kronhuset is just a five-minute walk from central Gustav Adolf Square. Parking in the area is limited and can be expensive so getting here on foot or by tram is recommended. The building is open daily. Note that shop hours vary.
