Imagine a place so peaceful it feels like it is a world away. A place where the calming sounds of the water lapping against the shore are the dominant sound and shadows dance across moss-covered stones, a place where history whispers through the ages. Welcome to Rödstuguviken, nestled on the shores of Lilla Värtan that makes up the northern edge of Lidingö in Stockholm. This quaint little bay is a hidden gem, brimming with history and natural beauty. Rödstuguviken gets its name from the quaint little house that still stands by the bay, a simple yet captivating building that carries the weight of centuries.
For centuries, this house was the home of the ferryman of Sticklinge. He ferried people across the bay and Lilla Värtan, the current stretching around 550 meters to Ekudden on Djursholm. This ferry was put into service towards the end of the 1480s when the Banér family, who owned Djursholm Castle, gained possession of Lidingö. People would take the ferry from Roparudden on Djursholm to Norra Sticklinge for a variety of reasons. The ferry was even used by the vicar in Danderyd in the 1700s on his way to preach at Lidingö church.
At the northernmost tip of the bay, known affectionately as Taheiti, a summer cottage once stood, a creation of Professor Nils Johan Andersson, a renowned botanist, in the latter half of the 19th century. This cottage was so captivating it inspired the name of the famous South Pacific island, Tahiti. This beautiful spot holds more than just the echoes of happy summer days. You will also find a stone setting from the Late Iron Age, serving as a reminder of the centuries of human presence here. This setting is among the so-called fairway graves, a place where they laid to rest people who died too far from their homestead to be buried there. The old ferry dock stands at the southern edge of the bay, a testament to the vital lifeline that once connected Lidingö and Djursholm.
Now, envision a small, wooden house, weathered by the elements, but standing tall – it is a silent guardian, a keeper of stories. This is Rödstugan, the heart of Rödstuguviken. There is a sense of timelessness here, a reminder of the simple life and the slow pace of days gone by. It invites you to step back in time, to imagine the ferryman paddling his small boat across the water, to feel the whispers of history through the wind that rustles through the trees. Enjoy this slice of peaceful paradise, a place where the past and the present intertwine.