Snäckan

Snäckan was originally a simple shed that was moved here in the 1830s and converted into accommodation for spa guests. At that time, the building stood right beside the water. The quay was built in 1894.
Shipbuilding and a shipyard operated here during the 18th and 19th centuries. The owners were Anders Knape and later Carl J. Engelke. Ships were built here as late as the 1870s. Gustafsberg was therefore a school environment, a seaside resort and a busy workplace.

Captain Henrik Liljebjorn, who visited in 1839 to treat severe gout, recalled:
“Fate arranged matters so that Matern and I could share a room next to my sister and the other girls. Our stay at the baths began happily and pleasantly, and continued in the same way. It should be known that the houses at Gustafsberg have only thin wooden walls between the rooms, so that every word can easily be heard from one room to the next, and we spoke to one another quite freely. I do not know why Matern and I had to move, but we were lodged in another house down by the sea, Snäckan.”

The photograph dates from around the 1860s. The quay where visitors walk today is not yet present; it was built in 1887-88.
Photo: Unknown, Bohuslan Museum.

The photograph dates from around the 1860s. The quay where visitors walk today is not yet present; it was built in 1887-88.
Photo: Unknown, Bohuslan Museum.

Read more about Captain Liljebjorn’s stay at Gustafsberg:

Extract from Jacobowsky, Gustafsberg, Sweden’s Oldest Seaside Resort:

Stories told by Captain Henrik Liljebjorn in 1839.

He had travelled to Gustafsberg hoping that the baths would cure severe gout contracted during his military service. His party included Major Johan Anton von Matern, Matern’s foster daughter Anna Lisa Werling, and the captain’s sister Anna Lisa Geijer, wife of the renowned Erik Gustaf Geijer, among others.

“Fate arranged matters so that Matern and I could share a room next to my sister and the three young women.
Our stay at the baths began happily and pleasantly, and continued in the same way. My sister and her girls collected their food from the inn and ate at home. Matern and I ate at the inn, but sometimes we agreed that we two men would also collect our food and dine with the ladies. Those were certainly among our most enjoyable dinners. Matern was always livelier than usual and overflowed with jokes and mischief.

We also socialised frequently with the other spa guests, who usually gathered every evening either in the so-called Square, where they played ring and ball games, or in Societetshuset in the park, where there was dancing or music. Those who were there may remember the lively galops performed in the great hall under the direction of Count Pontus Rosen.

There was no shortage of pleasant girls and ladies, and there were also many young men. One can imagine the cheerful life at this beautiful place.
Of all the spa and health-resort stays I attended, this was the most agreeable, although my own thoughts often wandered far from Gustafsberg.
One amusing incident in our small circle, centred around my sister, occurred after we had gone to bed one evening. My sister said loudly enough for Matern and me to hear: ‘I think we should open the door between us so that we can talk.’

Matern immediately replied, ‘Yes, that is what we shall do,’ which naturally caused loud laughter. The houses at Gustafsberg have only thin wooden walls between the rooms, so that every word can easily be heard from one room to another, and we then spoke quite freely. I do not know why Matern and I had to move, but we were lodged in another house down by the sea. Our neighbour there was Countess Taube, formerly Ridderstolpe, a cheerful and unprejudiced lady. There was no conversation between the rooms this time, however, because our acquaintance was too new.

The entire stay was blessed with mostly beautiful weather, encouraging outdoor pleasures, especially riding and carriage outings. In addition to these and the improvised balls already mentioned, a larger theatrical entertainment was arranged for a good cause under the leadership of Baron Kramer.
I was asked to take part as a performer and did so reluctantly, because the baths had affected me strongly and I found it harder than usual to learn my lines. I distinguished myself by not knowing my role.

Nevertheless, we had great fun, probably more behind the curtain than in front of it, as is often the case with amateur society performances. Among the spa guests I remember were Governor Baron Kramer and his entire family. Besides the close acquaintances already mentioned, Lieutenant Colonel von Gerdt and his son-in-law, Colonel and later General Malmborg, were also there. At the inn, Matern and I always sat with those two and formed a pleasant little circle in one corner.
Other notable people included State Secretary Nordenfalk and Lieutenant Colonel Silfverstolpe, later a cabinet minister. Lieutenant Braun, who later became a well-known poet, was also there, although anyone outside the boisterous group he led saw little of this much-discussed man. At the time, all I knew of von Braun was that he had a strained relationship with his regimental commander. A young lieutenant from one of the Scanian cavalry regiments often drove about showing off a fine team of horses, but I have forgotten the name of the lively young horseman.

Many of those I knew well and who stayed at Gustafsberg then have long since passed away, but three of my companions from the baths are still here in Uppsala.”

The Liljebjorn family probably first stayed in one of the houses around Skvallertorget. The party had made far too much noise for their neighbours, so the gentlemen were obliged to move to Snäckan, then one of Gustafsberg’s newer buildings.

The daily rent ranged from 24 skilling, approximately SEK 40 in 2019 values, to one riksdaler banco, approximately SEK 119 in 2019 consumer-price terms.