Marabouparken, Uppland Travel Guide

Birth of a Chocolate Legacy Park

Marabouparken emerged between 1937 and 1955 as a visionary project tied to the Marabou chocolate factory, established in Sundbyberg in 1916. The site, once Sundbybergs gård from 1785, was acquired by the company with a municipal condition: open public access alongside employee recreation. Henning Throne-Holst, the factory owner, transformed rugged terrain of cliffs, marshes, and ruins into a verdant oasis designed by landscape architects Sven Hermelin and Inger Wedborn.This park symbolized progressive industrial welfare, providing respite from factory monotony with grassy expanses, a splashing children's pool, and thoughtful landscaping inspired by the original estate gardens.

Sculptural Symphony in Green

The park's heart is its exceptional collection of modernist sculptures, commissioned to elevate the space. International luminaries like Leonard Baskin, Raymond Duchamp-Villon, Émile Gilioli, Henri Laurens, Marino Marini, and Gustav Vigeland contributed monumental works. Swedish artists including Eric Grate, Ivar Johnsson, Bror Hjorth, Arvid Knöppel, Lennart Rodhe, and Nils Möllerberg added local flair.These pieces, integrated seamlessly into meadows and paths, create a dynamic outdoor gallery where art dialogues with nature—abstract forms rising amid rhododendrons, magnolias, and a serene lily pond encircled by lush foliage.

From Cocoa Lab to Contemporary Canvas

At the park's core stands the 1943 cocoa laboratory, designed by architect Artur von Schmalensee, now reborn as Marabouparkens konsthall since 2010. This modernist building hosts rotating exhibitions of contemporary Swedish and international art, alongside educational programs, a restaurant, summer library, and meeting spaces.Sundbyberg municipality acquired the park in 2006, preserving its cultural heritage through a foundation focused on modern and contemporary works. Summer guided tours illuminate the sculptures and history multiple times weekly.

Flora, Fauna, and Family Haven

Winding trails invite leisurely strolls through open prairies, past vibrant flowerbeds and mature trees. A tranquil pond with water lilies draws the eye, while play areas—a paddling pool and playground—cater to families. The design balances wild natural elements with manicured sections, fostering biodiversity and peaceful retreats.Seasonal blooms transform the landscape: spring magnolias, summer rhododendrons, autumn colors. Birds and insects thrive, making it a living ecosystem beside Bällstaån river.

Enduring Cultural Beacon

Marabou's departure in 2002 marked a new chapter, but the park endures as Sundbyberg's pride—named Sweden's most beautiful by the Swedish Parks Association in 2008 for its exceptional design. It bridges industrial past and artistic present, a testament to forward-thinking patronage where chocolate funded enduring beauty.Today, it draws those seeking art, nature, and quiet reflection, its legacy woven into Sundbyberg's fabric.