Museum of Legends

The Museum of Legends is located in the town of Ljungby in Småland, Sweden. The museum is fun for kids, but it is also great for adults interested in learning about the culture of oral storytelling in this part of Sweden.

Småland is a part of Sweden characterized mainly by forests, small farms, lakes and small villages. The local legends include stories of trolls, magic, and tragic deaths. A visit to the museum includes a chance to listen to some of these tales being told by the skilled storytellers who work there.  

The museum has put together a map with dozens of “Legendary Places” in the surrounding countryside.  To visit all of them would take days, but there are several close to the museum and you can plan routes that include many others.

Some stories are based more on facts than others, but at least one Legendary Place sprung from a real tragedy.  In 1986, the band Metallica was traveling on a tour bus when it flipped over and killed their bassist Cliff Burton.  There is a memorial to him in the tiny village of Dörarp.

This part of Sweden is very picturesque, and searching for Legendary Places will give you a peak into life in the Småland countryside. Some of the places are located near major roads, and others require driving on gravel roads and walking into the forest for several hundred meters.