The mouth of the Hjo River

Duke John of Östergötland

Duke John of Östergötland (1589–1618) ordered the construction of a pier around 1610 at great expense, stretching from the mouth of the Hjo River out into Lake Vättern. He was the son of King John III of Sweden and Gunilla Johansdotter Bielke. At that time, Kåkinds härad – the district that included Hjo – was part of the Duchy of Östergötland.
The likely reason behind the construction was the Duke’s desire to promote trade routes around Lake Vättern. The pier is marked on a draft map that predates the official 1696 map.

An Archaeological Excavation in 1989

In 1989, an archaeological excavation took place just south of the river mouth. Among the discoveries were the remains of a structure made from 16 timber logs, each between 6 and 12 metres long and 20 to 60 centimetres in diameter. The structure measured 21 metres in length and 3.5 metres in width.
The logs had been laid in alternating courses, reaching in some places a height of three layers. Crossbeams, joined with traditional corner-notching, held the structure together. These remains are most likely what is left of “Duke John’s Pier”.

A Stone Crib in the Lake

About 100 metres from the shoreline, remains of a stone crib can be seen. It may have formed part of the original pier. Supporting this theory is a written account stating that the pier’s total length was 180 alnar (Swedish cubits) – equivalent to around 108 metres.

The Oak Log – a Remnant of the Pier

This oak log, most likely a part of Duke John’s pier, was salvaged from the lakebed in 1967.

Follow the Nature Trail

The nature reserve is a green oasis in the heart of the town, offering wonderful outdoor experiences all year round. Follow the Nature Trail along the Hjo River, from Hjo Harbour all the way up to the small lake Mullsjön, just west of the town.
This lush and leafy path takes you on a historic walk through wild landscapes, rich in birdlife – right in the middle of Hjo.

You can easily find the trail by following the wooden signs marked “NATURSTIGEN” along the river.
The full walk is approximately 4 km, from Hjo Harbour to Stämmorna at Lake Mullsjön.

Trail Information

• Waymarking: Clearly marked nature trail with wooden signs: "NATURSTIG"

• Length: Approx. 4 kilometres

• Food along the trail: YES – restaurant Stampens Kvarn

• Toilets: Dry toilet at Stämmorna, Mullsjön, public toilets at the harbour and at Kulturkvarteret in town

• Open: Year-round

• Managed by: Hjo Municipality

• Protected area: Part of the EU’s ecological network of protected areas, Natura 2000