Fridhem

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Princess Eugenie's summer home

Fridhem is a former summer house of the Swedish princess Charlotta Eugenia Augusta Amalia Albertina, known as Eugénie of Sweden , a daughter of King Oskar I. The house is located on the Baltic island of Gotland , on Högklintsvägen, near the village of Högklint och Nygårds near the Högklint cliff , about five kilometers south of Visby on the Baltic Sea.

Charlotta Eugenia

In 1860, Princess Eugenie came here to cure her ailments. She took a liking to the place and had a summer house built for her. Until her death she stayed regularly in Fridhem.

In keeping with the zeitgeist, the princess had a park laid out on the steep coast. Labyrinths , small pleasure pavilions, ruins and the waterfall contrasted with terraces, rose beds and exotic trees. A three-story wooden castle with glazed verandas on the sea side represented the main building. The fashion dictated the Swiss style, which was introduced in this way on the island. The complex included a bathhouse, guest house, farm building and stable.

The artistically ambitious princess was involved in the religious revival movement of the 19th century and Fridhem became a center of her followers. Artists, painters, musicians and writers were also invited here.

Eugenie was interested in social work. In 1866 a children's home for boys "Fridtorp" was built nearby. A few years later one for girls too. These facilities included a main building with a cattle shed, farm building, headmaster's apartment, teacher's apartment, carpentry and a school garden which the children provided. In Visby, the princess helped build a number of charities. She died in 1889 and was buried in the Riddarholmskyrkan in Stockholm .

After her death, her nephew Prince Oskar Fridhem inherited. The prince was chairman of the YMCA and the property was transferred to the association in 1927, which today runs a guesthouse and café on Fridhem .

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Coordinates: 57 ° 36 ′ 1 ″  N , 18 ° 13 ′ 0.4 ″  E