Historical sights

Klippan borders the southern riverbank and the Älvsborgsbron and is part of the Majorna district. It is one of the oldest parts of Gothenburg, mentioned as early as the 15th century. Gothenburg’s oldest port was located here, and between the 14th and 16th centuries the Älvsborgs castle defensive structure was located here. During this time, the fortification was an important outpost for defending Sweden against foreign attacks and had a very dramatic history with Danish conquests, fires and repairs. In the 1660s, however, the castle had taken its toll, and it was demolished by blowing it up. Therefore, there is nothing more than a ruin to visit today.

From the 1760s, Klippan received a new boost, when the area and the harbour began to be used by the trading company East India Company. At that time, warehouses, workshops, forges, homes and taverns were built, several of which make up Klippan’s Cultural Reserve. Today, Klippan is just as vibrant a neighbourhood as it was before, with shops, cafés, and restaurants in creative environments.

Växtverket

Växtverket is an urban commercial garden and design studio in Majorna. Here you will find plants for your garden, cultivation, windowsill and balcony. Växtverket was started in 2016 by Lisa Marx and she is the one who purchases all the goods and project manages all the design projects. All the staff who work at Växtverket have extensive plant knowledge, knowledge of cultivation and garden design. With extensive knowledge and carefully selected assortment, Växtverket wants to inspire a greener life.

Me and the Goat

Me and the Goat’s painted and summery facade, colourful decor and fresh pastries give the café a picturesque and cosy atmosphere. The fact that Me and the Goat is also located next to the green oasis Växtverket is something that further increases the coziness factor and contributes to the homely and inviting atmosphere that the café exudes.

Sjömagasinet

Sjömagasinet was originally built as a warehouse for the East India Company in 1775. It is now one of Gothenburg’s most well-known restaurants. It serves seasonal fish and seafood, and their Christmas buffet is widely renowned.

The steamship café Eduard Melin

Eduard Melin is a floating café housed aboard a refurbished steamship from 1882. The initiative is led by master chef Sofia B Olsson, well-known from the restaurant Vrå as well as from Chef of the Year and Chefs’ Battle. The boat is moored next to Sjömagasinet, and from the deck, visitors can enjoy a beautiful view of the harbour entrance.

Ankarsmedjan

In the 1770s, anchors and chains were made for the East India Company’s ships, and over the centuries it has also been a herring smokehouse and gallery. Since 2000 it has been a restaurant, first under the management of Sjömagasinet and now as Ankarsmedjan Social. It is home to the popular food club Huggorm, a cooking studio and at Christmas time a popular Christmas table is served.

Carnegies porterbryggeri och sockerbruk

Until the 20th century, Klippan was a thriving industrial area, and the beautiful historic buildings that once belonged to Carnegie’s porter brewery and sugar mill are still standing here. The company was started by AR Lorent and was bought in 1837 by David Carnegie d.y. who developed the company into one of the largest producers of sugar and porter in Sweden. The porter beer is still brewed (although at a different location) and is Sweden’s oldest registered trademark still in use.

Production at Klippan ended in 1979, and today the building is used as a hotel – Quality Hotel Waterfront Gothenburg. Restaurant Porter Pelle is located right next to the hotel, and here you can not only eat well, but also participate in drink tastings and historical walks in the area.

The area around sugar mill and porter brewery consisted of both industrial buildings and housing for the employees, and later a church, school and bathhouse were also built. The small mill community was designed by two famous architects. A. W. Edelsvärd designed the older part and Hans Hedlund designed the residential buildings that were added at the turn of the century.

Sockerbruket (sugar mill)

Today, the Sockerbruket is a creative and cultural center with a variety of activities. Here, among other things, there is the Artists’ Collective Workshop, artist studios, the art galleries Galleri PS and Galleri Thomassen, the dance scene on the 3rd floor and the pinball arcade Red Stone Pinball.

During the spring, the annual Art Walk in Majorna is arranged, when you can visit the open studios in the Sockerbruket.

Chapel of Saint Bridget

The chapel, which was completed in 1857, was designed by Adolf W. Edelsvärd on behalf of David Carnegie the Elder. The chapel had red brick facades and a slate roof, and is a popular place for weddings and concerts. If you’re up to speed on the swedish singer Håkan Hellström, you’ll recognize the church from the film Känn ingen sorg (2013), where a funeral scene was filmed, among other things. Several locations in the Klippan area appear in the film, such as Älvsborgsbron, the Sockerbruket and the balcony overlooking the Göta River.

Göteborgs Auktionsverk

Göteborgs Auktionsverk has a long and storied history that stretches back to 1681, when the Gothenburg Magistrate applied for permission from the government to start auction operations in the city. This makes Göteborgs Auktionsverk the world’s second oldest active auction house, with Stockholms Auktionsverk, founded in 1674, as its only predecessor. Göteborgs Auktionsverk arranges auctions that include antiques, art, modern design and handicrafts. Since March 2022, Göteborgs Auktionsverk has been housed in premises at Klippan, at Banehagsgatan 20.

Röda Sten Art Centre

Röda Sten Art Centre is located right under the Älvborgsbron bridge and is housed in a former boiler house from 1940, which served as a heating plant for industries in Klippan. The plant was closed in 1957 and then stood abandoned until 1996 when the non-profit association Röda Sten Kulturförening was allowed to take over the building, which was threatened with demolition. Today, Röda Sten is an internationally recognized art hall, showing exciting contemporary art in a unique industrial environment. Every two years, the art hall also hosts GIBCA, Gothenburg’s international art biennial. There is also a popular restaurant and café here, which serves lunch, coffee and an evening menu with dishes from all over the world.