Free tour

Majorna, were Gothenburg comes alive: The history, the people and the culture

4.71

Good(68)

Gothenburg

Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes

Languages: English

Guru: Sebastian

Registered on 24 October 2024

I'm a former journalist who used to work for our local public service radio station. I have a love for storytelling, old buildings, history, local sports and culture. I'm also a musician and I've been part of the Gotheburg underground rock scene for over a decade.

Free reservation and cancellation

Pay-what-you-want tour, no set price, reservation and cancellation are free

Tour description

Majorna is certainly Gothenburg's most intriguing neighborhood, older than the city it selph with historic architecture and an unmatched atmosphere. It is here that some of the citiy's most important historical events took place and bloodiest battles were fought. At the same time, it has always been the home of the working class of Gothenburg.

Here you can get to know the "real" Gothenburg, trure booth historically as well as prescent. Like no other neighberhood in the city, Majorna thrives with life and community.

You connect with the spirit of Majorna learn about the faith of the men and women that built their shacks on the hillsides along the muddy roads of the city. The dockworkers, longshoremen, and sailors. The soldiers, the prostitutes. and the drunks.

Former radio journalist Sebastian is a third generation "Majbo" and will tell you an exciting story about a place he loves.

PLEASE NOTE! This tour is held in English only and using translation aps may not work perfectly as I talk while walking and also because of noise from the city. Majorna has also got a lot of steep hills and this is quite a long walk, so bring your very best walking shoes!

Highlights

What will we see on this tour?

Meeting point:

Stigbergstorget 7, 414 63 Göteborg, Sweden

By the small cobblestone square there is a large 18th century villa called Gatenhielmska Huset. On the stairs of that building, a tall skinny guy wearing a green cap will be waiting for you.

Outside visit

Gathenhielmska Huset

Walk the garden of Gathenhielmska Huset, the city’s only preserved wooden townhouse from the 18th century. Learn about Lars Gatenhielm who became Swedens most famous pirate. The house it selph has a unique spirit, with furnishings and details that live on from a bygone era. Today it's a hub art and cultural activities.

Outside visit

Allmänna vägen 9

We stroll down Allmänna Vägen, the road that connected Gothenburg with the docks down the estuary. Here the the soldiers and sailors passed on there way to the city. During the 19th century, 80 bars and brothels were located along the road, so often sailors had to turn back having lost all there pocket money or ending up in an ditch beaten down by police. We stop at the Golden Hog and learn about Long Liz, the farmgirl from Hisingen who worked at the brothels and how she eventually met Jack the Ripper.

Outside visit

Pölgatan

The culture reserve behind Stigbergstorget is maybe the best perserved area of wooden strutures in Gothenburg. The area shows old buildings from the 16th and 17th centuries before the big fires. We learn about the struggles of the shipyard workers who lived here, the poverty, housing crisis but also why they loved to live here and struggle for locals to perserve the city.

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end the amount they consider appropriate (amounts usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).