Loka Brunn is a spa town located in Hällefors Municipality in Örebro County, Sweden, south of Grythyttan, and north of Karlskoga, at an isthmus-strip between the southern shore of Lake Norra Loken and the northern shore of Lake Södra Loken.[1][2]

Loka Brunn
Clockwise from top: aerial view of Loka Brunn; Loka garden landscape; the Loka Brunn Church.
Loka Brunn is located in Örebro
Loka Brunn
Loka Brunn is located in Sweden
Loka Brunn
Coordinates: 59°36′24″N 14°28′50″E / 59.6067°N 14.4806°E / 59.6067; 14.4806
CountrySweden
CountyÖrebro County
MunicipalityHällefors Municipality
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)

Established as spa town 1720, and granted rights in 1759, Loka Brunn is cited as one of the oldest spa towns in Sweden, along with Medevi and Ramlösa.[3] Since the 17th century,[4] Loka Brunn has been attracting prominent individuals from the aristocrat and bourgeoisie social classes as a meeting place, and according to tradition, the water at Loka Brunn is considered to have health benefits.[5]

History

edit

Early history

edit

Established during the Middle Ages, Loka Brunn, served as a resting site for pilgrims according to tradition.[4]

18th century

edit
 
Loka in 1762, engraved by Jacob Gillberg

Granted mineral rights in 1720, by Conrad Ribbing, governor of Örebro County, in the historical province Västmanland, near the border of Värmland, surrounded by conifer forests,[6] and described by Carl Linnaeus in 1746.

Established as a meeting spot for 18th-century Swedish politicians, the Caps party historically preferred Loka Brunn over Medevi, which instead was favored by the rival Hats.[7]

Loka Brunn has been a site for recovery and treatments since its inception. Notable individuals such as Gustav III,[8][9] Carl Linnaeus, and Bridget of Sweden have all stayed there.[10]

19th century

edit

Additionally, during the 19th century, individuals suffering from rheumatic disorders sought treatment at Loka Brunn. The site had a pharmacy, a practicing physician and a garden for medicinal plants used in treatment of patients. In addition, a church was inaugurated in 1824.[2]

Refugee camp

edit

Loka Brunn has been used as a refugee camp on several occasions. After the displacement of individuals during World War II, Danish and Norwegian groups were relocated and housed at Loka Brunn.[11] Later, during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, a group of Hungarians were also relocated to Loka Brunn where a refugee camp was established.[12]

Today

edit

In 2007, the Spendrup family acquired Loka Brunn.[13][14] Its workers mainly come from towns nearby, including Karlskoga and Hällefors.[15] In addition, Loka Brunn also hosts a spa town museum.[2]

The Loka Brunn site consists of 54 houses in total.[4] The site offers various amenities and facilities, such as spas, accommodations, and conference rooms.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Loka Brunn - Bergslagen.se". www.bergslagen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Loka brunn". www.lansstyrelsen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  3. ^ Jönsson, Håkan; Tellström, Richard (2018). Från krog till krog : Svenskt uteätande under 700 år (in Swedish). Natur & Kultur. ISBN 978-91-27-14592-4.
  4. ^ a b c "Vår historia" [Our history]. Loka Brunn (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  5. ^ Bolin, Gunnar (2019). Hovjuvelerarens barn (in Swedish). Albert Bonniers Förlag. ISBN 978-91-0-017543-6.
  6. ^ Vilo- och kurorter i Sverige (in Swedish). 1925. p. 79 – via Project Runeberg.
  7. ^ Marklund, Andreas; Larsson, Olle (2018). Svensk historia (in Swedish). ISBN 978-91-7545-742-0.
  8. ^ Niklas August, Tengberg (1871). Konung Gustaf III:s första regeringstid till och med 1772 års statshvälfning. Fragment af Gustaf III:s historia (in Swedish). p. 122 – via Project Runeberg.
  9. ^ "Loka brunn". www.lansstyrelsen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  10. ^ Mårtenson, Jan (2019). Dödligt hot (in Swedish). Wahlström & Widstrand. ISBN 978-91-46-23578-1.
  11. ^ Berglund, Tobias; Sennerteg, Niclas (2010). Svenska koncentrationsläger i Tredje rikets skugga (in Swedish). Natur & Kultur. ISBN 978-91-27-12791-3.
  12. ^ "Från revolt till kurort". Dagens Arena (in Swedish). Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  13. ^ "Loka Brunn | Svenska Spahotell". www.svenskaspahotell.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  14. ^ Lomberg, Sara (15 November 2007). "Spendrups köper Loka Brunn". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). ISSN 1101-2412. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  15. ^ Riksdagens protokoll (in Swedish). Kungl. Boktr. 1988.

Further reading

edit
  • Frih, Anna-Karin (2003). ”"Sjuk nästan jemt-": klorotiska flickor och kvinnor vid Loka och Porla brunn ca 1880-1910”. Kvinnor i Örebro län (2003): sid. 111-126 : ill..  Libris 9649863
  • Mansén, Elisabeth (2001). Ett paradis på jorden: om den svenska kurortskulturen 1680-1880. Stockholm: Atlantis. ISBN 91-7486-573-0.
  • Medlemstidning. Grythyttan: Lokasällskapet.
  • Bergius, Peter Jonas (1764). Tal, om kalla bad i gemen, och Loka badningar i synnerhet, hållet för kongl. vetenskaps academien, vid præsidii nedläggande, den 2. november 1763, af Peter Jonas Bergius ... På kongl. vetenskaps academiens befallning. Stockholm, tryckt: hos direct. Lars Salvius 1764. Stockholm.
  • Loka: en brunnssommar. Örebro: Morgonstjärnan. 1984. ISBN 91-86204-12-2.
  • Kungl. gyttjebad- och brunnsanstalten Loka 1928. Loka.
  • Loka: offerkällan som blev "kungens brunn" och en modern kurort. [Grythyttan]: [Grythyttans gästgivaregårds förl.]
  • Loka brunn. Grythyttan: Grythyttans antikvariat.
  • Sommarbrev från Loka. Norrköping: Norrköpings Tidn. 1948.
  • Bevarandeprogram för Loka brunn, Hällefors kommun, Örebro län. Örebro: Länsmuseet.
  • Stiftelsen Kungl. Gyttjebad- och Brunnsanstalten Loka (in Swedish). Loka Brunn. 1947.
  • Waldén, Bertil. Loka: en kunglig hälsobrunns krönika. Stockholm: Nordisk rotogravyr.
  • Otterling, Ingemar (1970). Loka brunn 250 år (in Swedish).
edit