Badhusparken – Östersund's living room

The name is a little misleading — there's no longer a bathhouse in Badhusparken. But the park has a rich history worth knowing.

The shoreline once ran along what is now Strandgatan. Back then, people washed clothes and swam in Lake Storsjön right here. When the railway arrived in the 1870s, the area was filled in — partly with rubble from a city fire — and a new park was born.

In 1881, the town got its bathhouse — built partly on stilts over the lake. It had a café, a sauna, and wooden tubs with 55-degree water. A flag outside showed whether it was the men's or women's turn. Swimming lessons took place in summer in a sheltered bay.

Over time, the water quality got worse and the building aged. A new bathhouse was built in 1938 and the old one torn down — but the name stuck. The park became a green escape for the town. A music pavilion went up in 1903, fountains were added, and steamboats docked along the shore.

In 1921, the park got its most talked-about feature — a sculpture called Father and Son, by Olof Ahlberg. The nude figures caused quite a stir at the time. It still stands in the park today.

Badhusparken is a gathering place all year round. In summer, people come for ice cream, lake views, and Storsjö Monster spotting. In winter it becomes Vinterparken — with skating, barbecues, and ice swimming.

More than a park, Badhusparken is Östersund's living room.

The Badhusparken in Östersund is located on the shore of Lake Storsjön and was named after the cold and hot bathhouse that was built on the site in 1881. Before that, the shoreline was higher up and the area was called Sjötorget, where there was, among other things, a laundry.

In connection with the arrival of the railway, the land was filled in and the bathhouse was partly built on piles in the water. It contained changing rooms, a café, a sauna and a bathtub, and was also used for swimming lessons. The bathhouse was demolished in 1938 when a new bathhouse was built on Rådhusgatan. The area was developed into a park with a music pavilion and fountain, and became a popular place for walks and events. 

The sculpture Father and Son by Olof Ahlberg was erected in 1921. Today, the Badhusparken is used for recreation all year round and is transformed into the Winter Park in winter with activities such as ice skating and ice swimming on the ice of Lake Storsjön.

Photos provided by the Association of Gamla Östersund.
Gamla Östersund through the foundations managed by the association.