From Munich to Hörnsjö - making room for life

Long before she packed her bags, Mona Prestele had already made the move in her mind. Growing up in Munich, she was surrounded by culture and history, but at the same time she felt a quiet longing for something else.

As a child, she loved the films and series based on the books of Astrid Lindgren. The landscape intrigued her - red wooden houses, endless forests and children running freely.

"It felt idyllic and untouched. Almost ancient. I think I always carried that image with me, and that has remained intact even after living here for almost 17 years," she says.

Her first step north came through her studies. As an Erasmus student, she attended university in Lund and later in Uppsala. She didn’t speak Swedish yet, but she immersed herself in the language for years before eventually making the permanent move to Umeå in 2009.

"I was very determined and wanted to be prepared, so I really prioritised learning Swedish. When we finally arrived, it felt like mission accomplished"

Arriving in Umeå in the autumn brought darkness, a nip in the air and the long to-do list that comes with moving to another country. But most of all it brought excitement.

"Everything just felt right. I had wanted this for so long, Mona remembers."

Realising her garden café

Mona is a landscape architect by training. But alongside design and planning, she carried another passion: food, gardens and hospitality. Within five years of moving to Sweden, she set out to create a garden café - a place where people could sit in beautiful surroundings and enjoy excellent food.

She grew her business, starting at home by baking bread and pastries, selling her goods at the university. She opened her first café in Olofsfors Bruk and ran it for six years until she found a place where she could realise all of her plans.

"I didn’t just want to serve fika. I wanted to organise courses, have vegetable gardens, maybe even animals and create a whole environment."

In 2015, she and her family found what she calls her “Astrid Lindgren house” in Hörnsjö. A rural property with room to grow — literally and figuratively. She was able to expand and build Presteles Trädgårdscafé at home.

"Here, I have space. Space for ideas. Space to realise all the things I’ve carried with me and dreamed of since childhood."

Today, her café is recognised in the White Guide and sustainability guides alike. But for Mona, the real success lies in the ability to realise her ideas.

"There’s a real sense of community, everybody helps each other all the time. People are really open. If I come up with an idea, I’m sure I know a neighbour who knows how to make it happen."

A different way of living

Living in Västerbotten has changed her. She describes a culture that is less hierarchical and conservative than the one she grew up in. Decisions are discussed because society is more consensus driven. Titles matter less and children are more included in everyday life.

"I feel freer here. Less concerned about what others think, like I can focus on just doing my thing. Almost like it’s easier to breathe."

For those considering a move — her advice is straightforward and heartfelt.

"Make sure you have a job when you arrive. Learn the language — even if you can get by with English, you’ll miss a lot of cultural nuances. And if you have a hobby, you can find community around that. When you share something with people, they open up."