Kronhuset

The city's oldest building

Kronhuset is one of Gothenburg's oldest surviving secular buildings, built between 1642 and 1654 in Dutch style as a military arsenal - "Giötheborgz Tyghuhs" in the Swedish of the day. Behind its heavy brick walls once sat cannons, vehicles, uniforms and the young fortress city's military grain reserve. The building stayed in military use for roughly two centuries, before passing from the state to the city in 1927 and being listed as a protected heritage building in 1968.

It sits a little tucked away on Postgatan in the Västra Nordstaden district, just a few minutes from the bustle of Brunnsparken. Step into the cobbled courtyard and you leave the busy centre behind, landing in a quiet corner of old Gothenburg.

A king is proclaimed

The building's most famous moment falls in 1660: on 4 January, Charles X Gustav convened the Riksdag in Gothenburg, and Kronhuset served as the Rikssal, the hall of the realm. When the king died shortly afterwards, his four-year-old son was proclaimed King of Sweden here on 1 March 1660, proclaimed, not crowned, as is often assumed. The restored hall is now mainly a concert venue: the building belongs to the city's property company, Higab, and the Gothenburg Wind Orchestra has rented it since 1998.

Kronhusbodarna craft courtyard

The main draw for visitors is Kronhusbodarna, the small craft shops and workshops around the courtyard. This isn't a recreated museum village but working craft trades:

• Göteborgs Choklad- och Karamellfabrik, chocolate and confectionery, with tastings and praline-making workshops (for a fee)
• Helen Gibson Glas, glass art and glassblowing
• Bäx Krukmakeri, pottery and ceramics, for over 25 years
• Klockboden, watchmaker specialising in restoring antique clockwork
• Laura Didion, handmade leather goods, since 2009
• Jama Produkter, hand-painted children's furniture

The shops are open weekdays 10:00-17:00 and Saturdays 11:00-15:00, with some exceptions. For browsing and watching the craftspeople at work, a weekday morning is the best time to come, while the workshops are active.

Café & events

The courtyard is home to Café Kronhuset (Postgatan 6-8), serving breakfast, lunch and cake - the dish of the day costs 149 kr, with à la carte options running roughly 139-255 kr. It's open weekdays 8:00-19:00 and weekends 10:00-18:00.

Throughout the year, Kronhuset hosts events in and around the courtyard, from summer hangouts to the Kalaskul festival in late August and the Kronhusjul Christmas market from late November. Concerts come courtesy of the resident wind orchestra; there's no fixed tour or concert schedule, and the programme changes with the seasons. Check the official website for current dates.

Visiting & practical info

A visit is quick and costs nothing: 30 to 60 minutes is enough for the courtyard, the shops and a coffee. Kronhuset sits centrally enough to combine with other old-town sights, the Cathedral is just a few steps away, and the Feskekôrka fish market hall is also within walking distance. If you're planning a compact old-town stroll, our top Gothenburg attractions and Food & Drink guide have more suggestions nearby.

Getting there by tram or bus: the nearest stops are Brunnsparken, Domkyrkan and Stenpiren. If you're driving, park on Kronhusgatan right next to the building; you can drive into the courtyard from Postgatan to drop off or pick up. Honestly, Kronhuset alone won't fill a full day

• but as a quiet, atmospheric stop in the city centre, it's well worth the detour.