Sankta Gertruds sjukhus, working life museum in Västervik Municipality, Sweden
Sankta Gertruds sjukhus is a former psychiatric hospital in Västervik that opened in 1912. The grounds contained multiple buildings including administration offices, patient wards with separate areas for men and women, kitchens, laundries, a pharmacy, and workshops.
The hospital was founded in 1912 to meet growing demand for care of people with mental illness. It received its name Sankta Gertruds sjukhus in 1931, and was later renamed Norra sjukhuset in 1968.
The name Sankta Gertruds comes from the patron saint of the sick. The grounds functioned as a small community where patients and staff lived together in shared spaces, with people working in gardens, caring for animals, and doing crafts as part of daily life.
The site is located in a quiet area north of Västervik near Gamlebyviken and is easily accessible. The museum grounds are partly walkable and can be visited on special opening days, with guided group tours available by advance booking for up to 50 people.
The grounds operated as a self-sufficient system with its own farms, greenhouses, and workshops where patients could work. Women had specialized rooms for weaving and sewing, while patients also helped in forests and with animal care.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
