Bona at Lake Bocksjön – Culture, Nature and Horticultural Art

Bona is located on Lake Bocksjön and combines a distinctive estate history with experiences of nature, horticultural art and regional fika culture. Anyone looking for a holiday destination where the landscape can be experienced alongside Swedish social and cultural history will find several different ways to explore the area here. Lake Bocksjön is a small lake in the main catchment area of the Motala ström. The lake is drained by the Hällestadsån and covers an area of approximately 1.25 square kilometres.

Nature experiences around Bona

For an active day out, consider exploring the Medevi–Krassbäck/Godegård section of the Östgötaleden trail. This section runs directly alongside the Flädemo nature reserve. This makes it possible to combine a hiking idea with an interest in protected landscapes without equating the route with other trails. The Rösjögrottan cave is also located in the immediate vicinity of the destination. It can be entered in a stooped position; inside, visitors can stand upright and find a bench. This specific access situation should be taken into account when planning your own excursion.

An estate with a complex history

Bona was originally a Frälsehemman, meaning a noble estate. The avenues visible on the grounds today date from the time of Oskar Lundqvist and are therefore among the place’s defining historical traces. At the beginning of the 20th century, the state acquired Bona and converted the estate into a reform institution. The Bona uppfostringsanstalt opened in 1905 in several large buildings constructed according to plans by David Lundhegårdh.

This development continued in a different form after the Second World War: in 1948, the Bona uppfostringsanstalt was converted into a hospital for men with intellectual disabilities and renamed Västra Ny sjukhus. The Bona uppfostringsanstalt is therefore an important part of Swedish social and cultural history. This focus may be particularly interesting during your stay if you want to discover historical places not merely as photo opportunities, but as a starting point for a deeper understanding of regional developments.

Horticulture, fika and regional details

In the large greenhouses of Bona trädgård, visitors can experience flowering examples of horticultural art. This adds a vivid, seasonally influenced dimension to the site’s historical character. At Café Krukboden, cakes are baked daily during the spring and summer season. Guests can enjoy their fika on specially designed tableware made by local ceramic artists Barbro Nyblom and Jeanette Wallgren. This creates an excursion experience in which not only the landscape, but also craftsmanship, design and Swedish coffee culture play a role.

Which type of accommodation suits your trip?

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Bona, you can use the focus of your trip as a guide. Those who want to combine nature and activity can include the Östgötaleden trail and Flädemo in their plans. Those with a stronger interest in history can focus their stay on the estate’s history, the Bona uppfostringsanstalt and the place’s later developments. For quieter days centred on enjoyment, the greenhouses of Bona trädgård and fika at Café Krukboden are specific destinations to consider. The accommodation that suits you best therefore depends primarily on whether you would rather spend your days hiking, making historical discoveries or visiting gardens and cafés.

Bona’s maritime past is also part of its character: the historic boat Bona transported wood and iron on Lake Vättern and along the Göta Canal all the way to England. If you would like to compare other places for planning your trip, you can also find Tjällmo, Borensberg, Nykyrka and Motala.

To the overarching travel overview: Motala.