Windows and Doors – Nääs Castle II

Friday My Town Shoot Out

Another FTMSO topic that gives me a reason to show some more photos from a visit to Nääs Castle last summer.

In case you missed the previous post about Nääs, or wish to refresh your memory, you can find it here: Frozen in Time 

Nääs Castle

 

One of the wings in front of the castle

 

 

Close-up of entrance to the wing, and an open window

 

The barn (now stables)

 

A kitchen window in the basement of the castle

 

House built for the director of Nääs Craft School in 1878.

 

▲ Lots and lots of windows in this building… ▼

I’ve been to crafts exhibitions here in the past. There was nothing going on in that room just now – BUT…

… there was an outdoors exhibition to do with building techniques and doors and windows…

Frozen in Time–Nääs Castle

Friday My Town Shoot Out

Back in July 2012, my brother and I went on a couple of outings to historical buildings in the area. The FMTSO theme this week reminded me that one of those I had still left unblogged… How very convenient. So I’ll be focusing on the Time aspect rather than the Frozen. But in the metaphorical sense you’ll get the latter as well.

Nääs Castle is a 17th century mansion at lake Sävelången in the province of Västergötland in Sweden, not very far from Göteborg.

 

Nääs estate, now a cultural heritage site, is renowned for its Crafts education during the late 19th and early 20th century. Beside several nature and walking trails, Nääs estate also provides Bed & Breakfast as well as conference accommodations.

The Castle is out on the little island, the Crafts College buildings are facing it from across the water.

The old Crafts College

During the summer craft courses are still held at ’Slöjdseminariet’, the old crafts college. I’ve been to crafts exhibitions there in the past, but there was nothing of that kind going on when we were visiting now.

 

In the old barn there are now stables and a riding school

… but the horses weren’t at home when we looked in:

In the buildings between the stables and the Castle there is a restaurant and café and a little shop.

The main building, Nääs Castle, is open to the public between May–September; but guided tours only.

The earliest castle on the estate was built in the 16th century. The last private owner of the present mansion and associated land was August Abrahamson, wholesaler from Gothenburg. He founded the Crafts College and after his death (1897) donated the entire property to the State in order to secure continuity for the educational programme.

We went on a guided tour inside the main building, which has indeed been “frozen in time”, as the last owner’s instructions were to keep it preserved exactly as it was when he lived there. Unfortunately, the only room where photography is allowed is the kitchen and servants’ hall:

The kitchen was also used for giving cooking classes; which is why there is a blackboard.

Servants’ stairs, and food-lift

The pantry

▼ Below, for comparison ▼
Photo from Wikimedia Commons of the men’s lounge upstairs

For a few more peeks upstairs, visit the Nääs website

Friday My Town: Tour Guide

This should be easy, but considering I’ve been blogging continually about my town for about three years now, I’m finding it kind of hard to come up with something “new”.

However, it may come as a surprise to some bloggers who have been following me for a while now… that THIS is where most of my Swedish visiting friends have wanted to go in the past:

The shopping mall/district ‘Knalleland’ (well, part of it)!

Borås is an old textile and mailorder centre; and even though nowadays there are less actual ‘factory outlets’ than there used to be, we still have a reputation for cheap (or supposedly cheap) shopping - especially clothes.

Actually some people travel for hours to get here, only to spend hours going from shop to shop at this mall, and that’s pretty much all they see of the town.

People with small children who aren’t fond of shopping, usually bribe them by also throwing in a visit the zoo.

The zoo was founded in the 1960s and specializes in African endangered species - and our own Scandinavian ones (like wolves):

 

 

A place I like to suggest to visitors is the Textile Museum, which is unique in Sweden. They have a permanent exhibition of old machinery etc reflecting the textile history of the area; and seasonal exhibitions of varying kind. I’ve blogged about this museum before on several occasions.

 

Another favourite spot of mine is the Open Air Museum, a park with a variety of old buildings which have been moved there. In the main museum there is usually some current exhibition of local history or crafts. In the summer you may also find modern sculptures on display in the park. In the tourist season there is a café.

 

I also like our town centre where besides shopping you can go for a stroll along the river and in the town park. The riverside restaurants and cafés are popular in the summer.

 

In later years, Borås has managed to build a reputation as a town of many sculptures. We got a boost in 2008 with Jim Dine’s 9 m high broze sculpture of Pinocchio:

 

This summer we’re having our third sculpture biennal with some extra sculptures on loan in addition to the permanent ones. This time many of the new works are displayed in and around our newly renovated Cultural Centre; in which building you’ll find the art museum, library, and theatre.

 

‘Pose Plastique’ by Cajsa von Zeipel

For more interiors and sculptures,
see last week's FMTSO post.

…

To take a tour of the highlights of some OTHER places around the world, go visit Friday My Town Shoot Out