Bona: Cultural History and Nature at Bocksjön

Bona is located by Bocksjön. When planning your trip, nature and culture go hand in hand: the small lake, nearby Rösjögrottan and the history of Bona uppfostringsanstalt. You can tailor your stay to your interests in the landscape, active exploration or historical context.

Lake, Cave and Hiking Trail

Bocksjön is a small lake in the main catchment area of Motala ström. It drains through Hällestadsån and covers about 1.25 square kilometres. The catchment area and drainage describe the wider water system, while the area measurement indicates the size of the lake. If you are interested in how the landscape fits together, you can consider both the lake and its place in a water system.

Nearby Rösjögrottan lies east of Bona. Visitors can enter the cave bent over; inside, they can stand upright and find a bench. This makes a cave visit different from a stay by the lake: here, you enter an interior space where it is possible to stand upright. The Medevi–Krassbäck/Godegård section of Östgötaleden runs right beside Flädemo Nature Reserve. For hikers, this section of the trail offers a direct connection to a neighbouring protected area.

From Country Estate to Reform School

Bona was originally a Frälsehemman, or noble estate. The farm avenues visible in Bona date from the time of Oskar Lundqvist and add another historical layer to the landscape.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the state acquired Bona and converted the estate into a reform school. Bona uppfostringsanstalt opened in 1905 in several large buildings constructed according to plans by David Lundhegårdh. In 1948, the institution was converted into a hospital for men with intellectual disabilities and renamed Västra Ny sjukhus. Bona uppfostringsanstalt is an important part of Swedish social and cultural history. Its history thus spans a noble estate, a reform school and a hospital.

The boat Bona offers another historical perspective. It carried timber and iron across Lake Vättern and along the Göta Canal as far as England. This episode shifts the focus from the history of the estate and its institutions to transport by water; the goods mentioned and the route to England make this chapter concrete.

Gardening and Fika

Visitors can enjoy flowering displays of horticultural artistry in the large greenhouses at Bona trädgård. Here, the focus is on cultivated horticulture, unlike the nature themes of the lake, cave and hiking trail. As availability may vary by season, check before your visit whether it is currently open to visitors.

Café Krukboden bakes cakes daily during the spring and summer. Guests can enjoy their fika on specially designed tableware made by local ceramic artists Barbro Nyblom and Jeanette Wallgren. The cakes and ceramics add a café and craft dimension to a visit focused on the landscape and history. Check the café’s current opening period and fika offerings in advance.

Discover more destinations: Motala, Borensberg, Tjällmo and Nykyrka.

Back to the main travel overview: Motala.