Bona lies by Lake Bocksjön, combining a waterside setting with the history of a former noble estate. Its development from an estate into a reform school and later a hospital gives the place a cultural and historical focus. The lake, nearby Rösjögrottan and the greenhouses at Bona trädgård offer different perspectives on nature and the art of horticulture. Fika at Café Krukboden is also one of the things to visit. If you are looking for a holiday apartment for a stay in Bona, you can plan your trip around your own interests and distinguish the historical sites from the seasonally available offerings.

By Lake Bocksjön and in the Surrounding Area

Bona lies by Lake Bocksjön, a small lake covering about 1.25 square kilometres. The lake is in the main catchment area of Motala ström and drains through Hällestadsån. The catchment area places Lake Bocksjön within a larger water system; Hällestadsån is the watercourse through which the lake drains. This makes it possible to understand the lake’s setting both in terms of the approximate size of the body of water and its place in the water system.

Rösjögrottan is nearby, east of Bona. Visitors can enter the cave bent over; inside, they can stand upright and find a bench. The entrance and interior are therefore different: you need to stoop to enter, while it is possible to stand upright inside.

From Estate to Reform School

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

The farm avenues visible in Bona also belong to the estate’s history: they date from the time of Oskar Lundqvist. Thus, alongside the institutional changes, traces of the estate landscape are also in view. The institution and the farm avenues tell different parts of the local history—the former through its changing uses, the latter through the historic design of the estate grounds.

The boat Bona offers another historical perspective. It is said to have transported timber and iron on Lake Vättern and along the Göta Canal as far as England. The journey thus extended beyond the lake and adds a concrete link to waterways and transport to the history of the place.

Greenhouses, Cakes and Fika

Visitors can experience flourishing examples of the art of horticulture in the large greenhouses at Bona trädgård. Seasonal availability may change, so check before visiting. This is distinct from the estate’s history: here, the focus is on plants and garden design.

Cakes are baked daily at Café Krukboden during the spring and summer months. Guests can enjoy fika on specially designed crockery made by local ceramic artists Barbro Nyblom and Jeanette Wallgren. The planning conditions differ: daily baking is limited to the spring and summer months, while the fika offering may change over time. Check the season and offering before visiting.

Bona therefore offers several distinct points of interest: Lake Bocksjön represents the lake landscape, Rösjögrottan offers a specific nature experience, and the site’s historical development brings cultural history into focus. The greenhouses and café add the themes of horticulture and fika. When choosing when to travel, it is especially worth checking the seasonal availability of visitor offerings.

Discover more destinations: Nykyrka, Borensberg, Tjällmo, Motala

Return to the main travel guide: Motala.