History
About Trolska and Trolska Boat Tours
In 1992 we started with troll tours on Bunn, Ören and Kvarnsjöarna, especially through the beautiful channels between the lakes. With a little imagination, you can see trolls and fairies behind every bend.
Before the start, we needed to produce a card with a picture and timetable. We therefore visited Gränna Tryckeri to get it fixed. Then the question arose: What should we call the boat and the tour?
That the boat would be called M/S John Bauer was pretty obvious, but we thought further about the name for the boat trips. Some clever person pointed out that trolls are spelled with two “l”s, while trolska has only one “l”. “Trollska Båtturer” looked better in writing, but “Trolska Båtturer” was the correct spelling – and we chose the right one.
However, this has caused some problems over the years, as many people assume the name to be “Trollska” and therefore search the internet without finding us. To make it easier, we have now registered both domains, trolska.se and trollska.se, so that it will be easier to find us.
Expansion and development
In 1995 we bought another trolling boat, which was named John Bauer II.
In the first years we only offered boat trips with coffee on board, but after many requests for food we also started serving dinners in our boathouse. Since it could get quite crowded, we expanded the boathouse in the same cozy style. Today we can accommodate about 45 people and also have a covered terrace with a bar.
In 2026, we went one step further and started offering meetings, conferences and other activities in collaboration with Bauergården.
John Bauer – The artist who captured the magic of fairy tales
The artist John Bauer was only 36 years old. He and his family were killed in 1918 when the steamer Per Brahe sank in a storm on Lake Vättern.
Despite his young age, John Bauer had become a well-known artist. He illustrated in the famous Christmas magazine “Among Santas and Trolls”, which published new beloved Bauer drawings year after year.
Between 1906 and 1918, the Bauer family lived on and off at the northern part of Lake Bunn, outside Gränna. First in a small cottage at Torstorp, and later in an artist’s residence at Björkudden.
You are welcome to visit the trolls in the rural, magical environment!
Generational change and sustainable development
In 2016, we started a generational change in the company, and since 2017 the business has been run by Frederik Lind, one of Sigge Axelsson’s sons. Sigge, who led the company for 25 years, is still involved in the business to support Frederik – as long as he enjoys it.
Ester ELqvist – A new era for our boat trips
In 2018, a project we have been working on for several years was finally completed. The project is called Ester ELqvist – with an emphasis on EL!
It is an old lifeboat that we have renovated and equipped with a hybrid engine, which means that she is powered by both diesel and electric motor.
This solution creates a completely new and amazing experience. When we reach the canals, we turn off the diesel engine and glide silently through the water, enhancing the magical feeling.
The Ester ELqvist will mainly be used for charter trips and serves as a test project that we have high hopes for. In the long run, we hope to equip John Bauer II with a similar propulsion system – but that remains to be seen. At a time when we are striving for a better climate, this feels like a step in the right direction.
So book a charter trip and ask for Ester ELqvist! We do our best to make sure you experience an unforgettable trip with this exciting boat.
The Ester can accommodate 16 passengers.