Kulturen in Lund is the biggest museum in Skåne and is second after Skansen in Stockholm the oldest open-air museum in the world. Kulturen occupies two entire blocks in centre of Lund. An underground passageway ties together the facilities and makes it easier for the visitor to go between the two different areas. About thirty houses have been moved here and tell the story about how people lived and worked throughout the history.

Founded by Georg Karlin

In 1882 the culture-historical association for the southern Sweden was established by Georg Karlin. Karlin were a precursor within the Swedish local history movement and he decided to try save what where left of the old peasant society. He began to collect various tools, pieces of furniture and clothing, but realized that if one will understand this cultural heritage he also needed reference materials. Soon thereafter he started to collect objects from other parts of the world. In 1892 Georg Karlin founded Kulturen, a museum that he hoped would be a miniature copy of the world.

Ancient treasures and modern themes

At Kulturen you will find many interesting exhibitions about everything from peasant society, art and design to exhibitions about current themes. The museum has about tewnty bigger and less permanent exhibitions that constitutes Kulturen’s basis. The permanent exhibition contains almost eliminating of Karlins collections, and tells about Lund's and Skåne's cultural history from past time to modern time. The collections contain a lot of handicrafts which has generated that the museum offers a number of design historical exhibitions where you as visitors can get a lot of inspiration. Kulturen is also well-known for its interest attractive modern exhibitions. They can be formulated of the culture's own personnel as well as of invited artists, curators and institutions. Each year Kulturen has a special theme. The previous year sexuality was the theme and in 2008 it is China that’s in the spotlight.
Last winter, the exhibition”dragons from China” was shown that where the first of four exhibitions on this year's theme. The exhibition attracted many visitors and where edified around the culture's own concentrations of objects with dragon motives. From May the second exhibition is shown ” China - in the middle of the world”. It takes you with on a travel through China's history and shows the country's fast economic expansion. Additional two exhibitions will be opened during the year and will discuss two off China's traditions; the puppet theatre and the ink painting.

Kulturen Östarp

This spring opened Kulturen Östarp that is a agriculture museum. Östarp was also founded by Georg Karlin and contains of the three farms; Gamlegård from 1812, Alrik Jönsson's farm from 1907 and Möllegården from 1924. The farms lie on their original places with associated domains, pasture land and cultivation land. Here can visitors hike along the nature and culture path and discover how the life where in the old days. During the summer time you can try traditional activities like making hay with a scythe, harvest hay and crush corn. On the nearby tavern called Östarps Gästgivaregård you may relax and eat good food.

Museum shop and restaurant

Kulturens newly renovated museum shop is now opened. In the shop you will find post cards and books and traditional handicrafts. Also modern things within ceramic, glass, article of wrought iron, textile, and jewellery can be bought here. The ones that design the jewellery to the shop are among others Jonek, Kristina Hillevi, Russkij Russkij and Sägen. Next to the museum's admission building lays the tavern called Kulturkrogen Lund. Take a break here during your visit to the museum and drink one starching espresso or have lunch, brunch or á la carte. Reserve a table by dialling 046-14 65 10.

At Kulturen

It costs 70 SEK to visit Kulturen. For groups consisting of at least ten persons the admission is reduced to 35 SEK per person, that also concerns school classes and students with a valid student ID. Members of Kulturen, children and youths below 19 years old the admission is free of charge. For information and booking of guided tours, send an e-mail to bokning@kulturen.com or call 046-35 04 32.

Published 2008-11-07 15:00