Smedbyn

Historical Smedbyn – a destination for everyone

  • Historical buildings
  • Handcraft
  • Free
  • Huskvarna

Small red cottages

Experience the red, picturesque cottages of Smedbyn and immerse yourself in Huskvarna’s rich history. Smedbyn is home to various artisans, a café, and second-hand shops. Just steps away, you’ll find beautiful walking trails, a playground, and barbecue areas.

The red cottage rows in Smedbyn were originally built to serve workers of the Husqvarna factory. Today, the cottages are alive with craftspeople, artists, cafés, and shops. Wander down the street, take in the scents of history, enjoy a fika at Smedbyn’s Garden Café, and let the kids play at the nearby playground.

A destination brimming with history

The low, red cottages lining both sides of Smedbygatan were built in the mid-18th century to house blacksmiths who worked here. These cottages originally contained living quarters, workshops, gardens, and even livestock.

Today, the red cottages are listed buildings and remain in their original locations, making Smedbyn a unique historical site. The area was Huskvarna’s first urban development and served as its original town center.

Of the original blacksmith shops, only the Appelblad smithy remains. This 18th-century smithy, complete with its original equipment, is open for visitors during events hosted by the Huskvarna Heritage Association.

Additionally, two apartments in Smedbyn are preserved and furnished in historical style, including a kitchen set up as a stock-making workshop. These spaces can be visited during special events.

A scenic area with nearby attractions

Across the street from Smedbyn, you’ll find a variety of experiences and local attractions. Highlights include:

Explore the beautiful beech forest nearby, visit Smedbyparken, or admire the Huskvarna River as it flows through the valley. The 116-meter waterfall near Smedbyn once powered Husqvarna’s weapons factory, marking the beginning of the area's industrial legacy.

Playground and family fun

Next to the Huskvarna River is Smedbyn’s Playground, which offers climbing frames, slides, trampolines, swings, a sandbox, and more. The area also includes beach volleyball nets, several barbecue stations, and covered seating areas.

Seasonal events and audio guides

Every year, Smedbyn hosts a Christmas market, where the street comes alive with market stalls and festive cheer.

Explore Smedbyn’s history at your own pace with audio guides available from Oblectum. These dramatized stories take you through Smedbyn’s history from the 1600s onward. The guide, which costs 50 SEK, includes 10 tracks and takes approximately 55 minutes.

Huskvarna

Gazing out over Lake Vättern, the giant Vist stands tall in Huskvarna. Here, striking contrasts meet — between stunning natural surroundings and the historic Husqvarna Factory, established in 1689 to produce weapons for the Swedish military. At the Husqvarna Museum, you can explore everything from sewing machines and motorcycles to modern-day chainsaws and lawnmowers. Nearby, Smedbyn offers a charming mix of history, art galleries, and craft studios. Since 1925, Huskvarna Folkets Park has been a beloved venue for music, theatre, festivals, and fairs.

Good to know

  • Accessibility: The area is at ground level with parking nearby. Some cottages may have narrow doorways and high thresholds.
  • Café/Restaurant: Yes (seasonal opening hours).
  • Bus Parking: Yes.
  • Toilets: Available at certain venues.

How to get here

From central Huskvarna drive towards Husqvarna Museum, there is a large parkinglot on the other side of the street from the museum

The nearest bus stop is Stampaplan, serviced by regional and city buses.

Smedbyn is a 15-minute walk from central Huskvarna or Huskvarna Station, following the scenic path along Huskvarnaån.

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