Swedish Academy of Sauna, Sweden
Swedish Academy of Sauna
Sweden is arguably the home of the sauna, so it is not surprising to learn that they have the world's first sauna museum. Now before you start worrying that this is a drab building 
filled with history books and boring displays, the Swedish Acadmey of Sauna is actually a fully working sauna centre.
Located in Kukkolaforsen, the Swedish Academy of Sauna is not just a museum, but has three large sauna centres, each equipped with a total of 14 saunas. As such, visitors can not just learn about how saunas were developed over the years, but enjoy the relaxation and health benefits that saunas have to offer - there is even a large communal sauna that can house up to 60 people.
When the sauna museum was opened, it was even baptised by national theatre group Riksteatern, who re-enacted famous scenes from the history of sauna (apparently there are some).
The museum even has a motto dedicated to its displays - ‘In the sauna, truth is revealed’. It is with these words that visitors to the Academy are inducted into the world of traditional saunas and given the opportunity to try the various types, be it thermal, wood-fired or electric. The Academy even has a local expert in the Master of Sauna Ceremonies, who teaches visitors everything they need to know about the health benefits of saunas, how to enjoy them and what you'd need to have to install your own sauna.
back to Best Saunas Guide.
