Alstavik, Manor house on Långholmen, Sweden
Alstavik is a manor house on the island of Långholmen between Södermalm and Kungsholmen, situated among walking paths and green spaces along the waterfront. The building sits within what was once a prison complex and is now part of a public recreational area.
The manor was built in 1649 by a wealthy brewer and acquired by the State in 1724 to serve as a women's penal institution. The island played a significant role in Stockholm's criminal history until correctional facilities closed in the 1970s.
The building carries the memory of how Långholmen transformed from a prison island into a public recreation area after correctional facilities closed in the 1970s. Walking around the island today, you can sense this shift in how the place is now used and enjoyed by locals.
The site is accessible via two bridges connecting the island: Pålsundsbron from the east and Långholmsbron from the west. The location works well for walks since paths and open areas surround the manor.
Prisoners contributed to shaping the island by covering rocky ground with soil to create garden areas. This landscape transformation through prisoner labor remains visible today in the island's lush greenery.
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