The history of Kungshaga Hotell
From parish home
to the hotel it is today
Kungshaga Hotell has a long and fascinating history that goes all the way back to 1918, when construction began on Församlingsgården, the parish home for the elderly.
Built on forest money
The building was financed by Orsa Besparingsskog, the community-owned forest, and its forest fund. At the time, Orsa was considered one of the richest municipalities in the world, and residents paid no municipal tax. The tax system was so favourable that the powerful Wallenberg family considered moving their empire here. But the locals, who were very proud of their forests, were reluctant to let wealthy city people share in their natural resources.
Life at Församlingsgården
Församlingsgården opened in 1919 as a home for the poor, the elderly and people with mild intellectual disabilities. The building had two separate entrances – one for men and one for women – and had what were then modern comforts such as running water and indoor heating, something unusual for those who lived here.
A total of 62 residents lived here, sharing 3–5 to a room. Keeping the home running were 6 care assistants, a housekeeper and a nurse. They worked long days from 06:30 to 19:00, and the assistants earned a modest SEK 25 a month.
Work at Församlingsgården was both physically demanding and varied – from scrubbing floors on hands and knees to caring for the residents.
Self-sufficient by the lake
In those years the home was self-sufficient, with a large garden where vegetables and fruit were grown. Meat was butchered and preserved on site, and in winter ice was cut from Lake Orsasjön to keep food cold in a special ice cellar.
The people of the house
One of the most loved people of this time was Nelly, a nurse at Församlingsgården in the 1950s and 60s. Nelly was also one of the first women to compete in the Nordic Championships in Stockholm, where she came second in 1917. She lived on the top floor of Församlingsgården, in a room overlooking Lake Orsasjön. It was a hard time for everyone, but Nelly’s care and dedication to the residents made her a legend at the home.
Another well-known figure was the much-loved postman Axel Back, who truly cared about the residents and made sure they received letters from distant relatives, even ones they may never have met. Axel became a hero to many elderly people who might otherwise have had no contact with the outside world.
From Församlingsgården to Kungshaga
After Församlingsgården closed in 1967, Orsa municipality renovated the interior, adding washbasins to most of the dormitories and toilets to some. From 1968 to 1978, Hjalmar Lindberg, a well-known national evangelist, and his wife Margit took over the building and renamed it Kungshaga, after the poodle kennel he had run in Örebro. He ran it as a course centre for the Mission Covenant Church of Sweden. Under the Lindbergs, the dormitories were turned into private rooms and the building took on a new role as Kungshaga turist & vilohem, a guesthouse and rest home.
When Britt and Alice took over Kungshaga in 1985, an extensive renovation gave the hotel its current character, and every room got its own shower and toilet. Sofie and Joachim Diefke then ran Kungshaga Hotell from 1989 to 2009, before Daphne and Pauvel van Zonneveld, together with their sister Odette, took over and ran the business until 2020, when the current owners, the Friström family, took over.
Kungshaga through the years
1918 - 1919
Församlingsgården is built and opens as a home for the elderly.
1967
Församlingsgården closes. Orsa municipality renovates and adds washbasins and toilets.
1968 - 1978
Hjalmar and Margit Lindberg take over. The house is named Kungshaga and becomes a course centre for the Mission Covenant Church, and later Kungshaga turist & vilohem.
1985
Britt and Alice take over and renovate. Every room gets its own shower and toilet.
1989 - 2009
Sofie and Joachim Diefke run Kungshaga Hotell.
2009 - 2020
Daphne and Pauvel van Zonneveld run the hotel together with their sister Odette.
2020
The Friström family takes over.
Where old meets new
Since then we have renovated almost all the rooms, the kitchen, the shared spaces and the conference rooms. We have built a large veranda with a wonderful view over Lake Orsasjön. The renovation is still ongoing, and we hope you will feel part of our life project, where old meets new. The building has always been in excellent condition, and our careful renovation is more like uncovering its history than rebuilding it.
Kungshaga Hotell today
Today, Kungshaga Hotell is a place where history meets the future. Our guests stay in a wonderful setting by Lake Orsasjön, surrounded by beautiful nature in a calm and relaxed atmosphere. We have created a modern hotel while preserving the building’s original charm and history.
Our vision is to preserve the past while building the future – a place where guests can enjoy both the peaceful nature and a warm welcome from our team.
Come for the view, stay for the company.
You are always welcome at Kungshaga Hotell.