In 1746, Carl Linnaeus travelled through the Västergötland region, and one windy day he arrived in Falköping. He studied the flora both on Mösseberg and on Ålleberg. As he walked up the hill to the Mösseberg Table, he was amazed at the varied landscape. He made various discoveries – in his travel report, which is still worth reading today, he describes for example the rare plant thistle broomrape. Even though Linnaeus liked the Mösseberg mountain it was to be another century before the most important component of a future spa resort came into being – the railway was built.
Count Gösta Posse, one of the men behind the initiative to build a railway to the Falbygden region, investigated the opportunities for establishing a spa resort in the local area, and Mösseberg was chosen, as the water from St Erik's Spring turned out to be “exceedingly abundant”. The water could easily be pumped up and be used by a spa establishment. Another good reason for choosing this site was that the side of the mountain, “Mössebergssluttningen”, was considered an area of natural beauty, with a vegetation which included deciduous forests and carpets of spring and summer flowers. After a fact finding trip to French and German bathing establishments, the drawings and suggestions for the development of Mössebergssluttningen were submitted. On the 30 August 1864, the project was approved by His Royal Highness.
Doctor Otto Torstensson
In 1867, Doctor Otto Torstensson took up his post as the first Bath Physician at Mösseberg, in ”the grandest and most beautiful bathing establishment ever seen in this country”.
In the publication “Ny Illustrerad Tidning” the following story appeared later the same year:
“A few minutes journey from Falköping's railway station, on the southern side of the remarkable mountain of Mösseberg, where the beech forest is a reminder of the vast forests of times gone by, a spring wells up, around which the new bathing establishment has been built in a tasteful style. The interior is in accordance with the latest and best ideas.”
To pay a visit to Mösseberg Health resort is to walk in footsteps of many well-known names. Celebrities from all over the world have enjoyed the beautiful nature, delicous food and relaxing baths for more than a century. Albert Engström, Madame Kollontay, Wilhelm Moberg, Thor Modéen och Erik "Bullens pilsnerkorv" Berglund are just a few prominent people who have been staying at out hotel.