Kräftriket

Did Carl Michael Bellman ever imagine his verses would echo through the centuries, right here at Kräftriket? This area, nestled in Norra Djurgården by Brunnsviken and Albano, holds a rich and layered history. Kräftriket wasn’t always its name. It was once known as Cathrineberg, a humble hunting lodge. In the late 1700s, a tavern opened here. It served crayfish freshly caught from Brunnsviken. This simple act gave birth to the name “Kräftriket”, the Crayfish Kingdom. Bellman himself immortalized this early tavern in his Epistle 80, referring to it as the “first torp” (cottage). The original tavern building is gone. It was purchased by engineer Richard Schwallbom and relocated to Viggbyholm. But Kräftriket’s spirit lived on. An 1880s wooden villa now stands on the site, carrying the name forward. Nearby, you’ll find a 1975 statue of Bellman. This is a replica of the one at Hasselbacken. The tavern’s legacy isn’t the only story etched into this land. In the late 19th century, a yeast factory operated here before moving to Rotebro. Then, in the early 20th century, Kräftriket transformed again. From 1907 to 1912, brick buildings designed by Ludwig Peterson and Rudolf S. Enblom rose on the site. These buildings became the home of the Veterinary College until 1976. More structures were added in the 1940s and 1950s, designed by Joel Lundeqvist and Carl Grandinson. Even after the Veterinary College departed, Kräftriket continued to evolve. Stockholm University occupied the space until 2022, when its departments moved to Campus Albano. Today, Kräftriket is a dynamic hub. It houses the Naprapathic College and Medicinskt Kursforum, which trains massage therapists. The Brunnsviken Canoe Club also calls this area home. Kräftriket’s story is a testament to change and adaptation. From hunting lodge to tavern, from factory to educational institution, it continues to reinvent itself.