Jönköpings läns museum

Don’t miss your chance to experience art and cultural history up close. At Jönköping County Museum there is a wonderful mix of culture ranging from John Bauer's fabulous artwork to Småland’s cultural history and Viktor Rydberg's life story.

There is a huge variety of experiences on offer at the county museum and you’ll be sure to find something for the whole family. Among other things, you can visit all the museum's exhibitions, either at your own pace or via a guided tour, or let the children's creativity flow in the museum's open workshop or browse for gifts in the fantastic museum shop. The museum has been collecting documents, pictures, art, books and artefacts for over a hundred years, and has a large archive that is also well worth a visit.

Check out the calendar on the museum's website where they are constantly adding exciting events including lectures and courses to performances and city walks. All activities are free, as is the visit to the museum.

Magical treasures and battles through time

The fairytale artist John Bauer is the pride of Jönköping. At Jönköping County Museum, adults and children alike can enjoy John Bauer's fabulous art treasures. Bauer's work is closely linked to nature. His fairy-tale creatures emerge from mossy stones and twisted tree branches. The ugly trolls depicted in his illustrations aren’t scary at all, but rather friendly and good-hearted.

At the county museum you will also meet Ester Ellqvist, who was the great love of John Bauer's life. They met while studying at the Academy of Fine Arts and married a while after that. Ester dreamed of becoming a fine artist at a time when a married woman had neither independent means nor the right to vote. It was Ester who John used as a model for the golden-haired Princess Tuvstarr.

Battle through Time is a unique cultural history exhibition about the county's history. 37 people and 37 life stories. The entire exhibition, from idea to finished design, has been produced together with children and young people from the county. It is both an exhibition and a game suitable for both young and old. As you solve the game's challenges, you learn more about the various people, their fate and historical significance.

In the Archive House next to the County Museum, you’ll find a history of the city exhibition Memories, People, Places. Here you can travel through Jönköping from the 13th century when the city was founded by Magnus Birgersson (Ladulås) to the final destination that depicts visions of the 21st century.

A fairytale place for children

Jönköping County Museum is a cultural mecca for children. In the drop-in workshop, there is the opportunity to create freely or solve ready-made workshop tasks. The Follow John exhibition invites children to discover the story of John Bauer through play and imagination. There are soft carpeted floors, fancy dress clothes and exciting props that provide a magical sensory experience. And besides, who wouldn't want to be a troll, prince or princess?

When you have finished exploring the museum, you can walk across the other side of the entrance to Jönköping City Library, which has a nice children's corner with space for reading, cosy time and playing.

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