The Land of Legends
Out in the forests, it’s easy to imagine little trolls hiding behind the boulders… There are plenty of fairy tales in Småland and here you’ll find enchanting places where invisible creatures get to stand in the spotlight. Welcome to the Land of Legends.
Explore the magical Land of Legends and cherish the oral storytelling tradition
In southwest Småland there is something truly magical. A Museum of Legends and an entire Land of Legends that hides countless exciting and fun stories – and these are oral stories from times when the written word was not common. Until the 19th century, stories were spread orally from house to house and on through generations. When people gathered during long, dark winter evenings in front of fireplaces, the adults told stories and the children listened. Many times the stories were not meant for children’s ears, but that has always been the case.
In November 2018, the Land of Legends was included in UNESCO’s register of good methodological examples of how to work to safeguard intangible cultural heritage, in this case how to nurture the oral storytelling tradition and be an example for the whole world.
The Museum of Legends in Ljungby is the heart of the Land of Legends. It is a fun and exciting museum for both young and old. Here they bring the oral storytelling tradition to life and you can walk around on your own and watch or follow a storytelling guide. Every year The Storytelling Festival of Ljungby is also held where you can listen to everything from local storytellers to the brightest stars of the international storytelling world.
Legendary places
The Land of Legends is a destination for anyone who enjoys exciting and fun stories. A trip to the Land of Legends is a journey through a landscape where there is unknown and dirty stuff everywhere, to scenic places, forgotten sights and a way to get to know people’s lives and livelihoods in the past. Taste the cold water of the spring! Crawl into the passages of Trollberget! Enjoy the view from Blodberget! Try to climb Karin’s stone!
Today, there are 60 legendary sites in the Land of Legends. 40 of these consist of legend cabinets. You will find them in the landscape, placed at the place where the event is said to have taken place. The cabinets contain the story, written in Swedish, English and German. You can find 20 sites with geocaching, which is a treasure hunt with GPS. And the treasure you find, of course, consists of stories.
Find the legendary places
In the Land of Legends you can experience the magic and, using your smartphone, set out on a journey of discovery to the mythical places that are linked to a special place. Download the app “Sagoby…
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In the Land of Legends you can experience the magic and, using your smartphone, set out on a journey of discovery to the mythical places that are linked to a special place. Download the app “Sagobygden” which is available for both iPhone and Android and discover the 42 legendary places. In the app you get help finding the right places with a map, read a snippet and above all listen to a narrator in Swedish, English or German.
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The Museum of Legends in Ljungby
The Museum of Legends in Ljungby is the heart of the Land of Legends. It is a fun and exciting museum for both young and old. Here, the oral storytelling tradition is brought to life and you can wa…
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The Museum of Legends in Ljungby is the heart of the Land of Legends. It is a fun and exciting museum for both young and old. Here, the oral storytelling tradition is brought to life and you can walk around on your own or follow a storytelling guide. You will learn a lot about Småland’s mysterious past, the good and the evil. During many school holidays, the Museum of Legends is open extra, with special guided tours and family storytelling. During the summer (June – August), it is open Tuesday-Sunday between 12:00-16:00. On selected dates, guided tours are also offered in German, English and Danish.
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The Storytelling Festival of Ljungby
Since 1990, the Ljungby Storytelling Festival has been organized. Every year, just before Midsummer, around 50 storytellers and researchers from all over the world gather to share their best storie…
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Since 1990, the Ljungby Storytelling Festival has been organized. Every year, just before Midsummer, around 50 storytellers and researchers from all over the world gather to share their best stories and experiences for a few days. Every year, the festival offers around 70 performances, courses, seminars, hikes and excursions in the Land of Legends. You can listen to everything from local storytellers to the brightest stars of the international storytelling world. They present funny, sad, breathtaking and chilling stories, both newly written material and ancient stories. There is something for everyone here, big and small, young and old! The festival is the oldest annually recurring storytelling festival in the Nordic countries.
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