Vinterviken
Vinterviken: A Piece of Stockholm's Industrial History 🧨
Stockholm is a city filled with history and charm, and there's no shortage of fascinating places to visit. One such place is Vinterviken, a bay on Lake Mälaren and a valley located in the district of Aspudden. Vinterviken is known for its association with Alfred Nobel's industrial facilities, which were once home to various forms of industrial activities until the 1980s.
The name Winterviken is known from the 1600s and was also the name of an apartment called Wintertorpet. An inn was once housed here in the main building from the 1700s or in a separate building. A winter road led from Fittja and the Mälaren islands into Vinterviken and continued over Lake Trehörningen (now Trekanten) into the city at Hornstull. Even in the 1930s, there was a small lake in the Vinterviken valley called Långsjön, located between Blommensbergsskolan and Nobel's dynamite factory.
One of the earliest industries in Vinterviken was a dye factory called Wintervikens målarfärg, founded in 1847 by chemist Johan Georg Gentele, who had immigrated from Germany. The factory was located adjacent to Wintertorpet, where he lived with his wife and two daughters until 1849.
In 1865, Alfred Nobel purchased the entire area and moved here from Heleneborg on Södermalm because the operations there became too dangerous for the public. In Vinterviken, he established a factory and testing facility for the manufacture of primarily dynamite. The site was chosen carefully, in a narrow valley surrounded by high mountains with forests and direct access to Lake Mälaren. When the purchase was completed, the equipment was moved into a stable, a greenhouse was used as a laboratory, and so on. In the beginning, Alfred Nobel himself was CEO, chief engineer, correspondent, treasurer, and advertising agent. From 1866 to 1875, Alarik Liedbeck, who had also participated in the construction of the plant, served as foreman.
Vinterviken is a beautiful area with a fascinating history, and it's definitely worth a visit if you're in Stockholm. The park area surrounding the bay is perfect for a picnic, and you can also take a guided tour of Nobel's old factory buildings. You can also visit the restaurant housed in one of the historic buildings and enjoy a meal while taking in the beautiful surroundings.
Vinterviken is an essential piece of Stockholm's industrial history, and it's a great place to visit for anyone interested in learning more about the city's past.
Address: Vinterviksvägen, 117 65 Stockholm
Tunnelbana: Aspudden
Webpage: Winterviken Cafe
Webpage: Vinterviken Gardens
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