Arthotel embodies the dream of preserving Tornedalen’s cultural heritage, nature and countryside, making its uniqueness available to global travellers searching for serenity and closeness to nature – a modern way of recycling the beauty of the past.

The founder Gunhild Stensmyr’a background as a museum director has naturally played a part in everything at Arthotel. Every object guests see or touch has a story to tell, with the new jostling with the old. Art and design are everywhere – from the guest rooms to the dining room, the library, the lounge, the lobby, and outdoors too.

Tornedalen, a strikingly unspoiled place on the border of Sweden and Finland where the seasons are vibrant and nature is close, is the birthplace of Gunhild Stensmyr. After a professional life within art, culture and museums in southern Sweden, she nurtured a dream of opening people’s eyes to the beauty and simplicity of silence, nature, art and the culture of Tornedalen

In 2009, Gunhild invested in the first of several properties close to her native village and started to very carefully restore and renovate them into premium quality living spaces while preserving a feeling of home. Each house at Arthotel bears the name of the family that built it and made it their home - Tolonen, Anundi, Kristina and Wennberg.

Arthotel Tornedalen is in all aspects aware of the need for prudent use of the landscape and nature, therefore we have certified our forest to benefit the environment. We have also restored the houses according to tradition by using locally grown wood. A local carpenter has made doors, stairs, windows, benches and tables which are specially designed for Arthotel Tornedalen, and made of slow-growth pinewood from our region.

It is natural for us to use local suppliers whenever possible. Cooperation is necessary and we encourage local people to get involved in tourism by developing and bringing to the market their interests and hobbies like fishing, hunting, growing vegetables, picking berries, boiling jam, baking, weaving, knitting and so on. We cooperate with local entrepreneurs for all activities and guiding. Our neighbours also invite our guests to join the daily life in the village and to take part in our traditions and customs.