About the Museum of Legends

WHY A STORYTELLING MUSEUM?

The Storytelling Museum is a place where we highlight stories that have been told for hundreds, even thousands of years. They have survived because they’ve entertained, made listeners laugh, shiver, or cry.
Click here for current information about opening hours.

An oral story is the art of the moment.
How do you showcase oral stories, which are so dependent on the interaction between storyteller and listener? By creating a museum with a magical atmosphere and great beauty.

The Storytelling Museum draws from the rich treasure of fairy tales and legends that have been and still are told in the Storytelling District (Sagobygden). Fairy tales are the longer, imaginative stories where anything can happen. Legends are short and are told with the claim that the events really occurred. Often, they involve people’s encounters with the supernatural.

The Storytelling Museum doesn’t aim to tell the history of oral storytelling but instead, wants to be like the stories themselves: to awaken wonder and desire, stimulate curiosity, and offer the joy of discovery.

You can explore the museum on your own or experience it with a storytelling guide who brings the stories to life. Each guide tells the stories in their own way, so when you return and meet a different storyteller, we dare promise completely new stories. Book your own visit with your group! Or ask us about times for public tours.

THE FOUNDERS OF THE STORYTELLING MUSEUM

The Storytelling Museum and its enchanted garden became a reality thanks to the enthusiasm, creativity, and dedicated work of many people, along with generous support from various authorities and companies. A heartfelt thanks to you all!

Ideas, artistic design, and texts:
Textile artist – Mia Einarsdotter
Storyteller, author, and lecturer – Per Gustavsson
Wood sculptor, artist, and multi-talented – Kjell Sundberg

OTHER COLLEAGUES WHO MADE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS!

Electricity – Alf Wallén
Lighting – Conny Åhs & Björn Gullander
Carpentry – Kjell Sundberg & Jan Sjökvista
Bookshelves – Mats Olsson
Masonry work – Thord Andersson
Decorative painting – Torsten Bengtsson
Lettering – Eva Andersson
Administration – Birgitta Wallén
Storytelling District’s display cases – Benkt Persson
Singing – Gunilla Lundh-Tobiasson
A bit of everything – Members of the Storytelling Network Kronoberg

THE STORYTELLING MUSEUM CAME TO LIFE THANKS TO SUPPORT FROM:
The Foundation for the Culture of the Future, the County Administrative Board and the County Employment Board in Kronoberg County, Region Kronoberg, the Kronan Savings Bank Foundation, Smålänningen newspaper, and the municipalities of Alvesta, Ljungby, and Älmhult.

OWN INCOME AND VALUABLE SUPPORT FROM:
In addition to its own revenue, the museum’s operations are now supported by valuable contributions from Ljungby Municipality, Region Kronoberg, and the municipalities of Alvesta and Älmhult.

THE STORYTELLING MUSEUM’S ENCHANTED GARDEN

“Where the magpie builds its nest, the farmer finds peace.” That’s what people used to say in this part of Småland. But even elsewhere in the country, it was believed that a magpie’s nest on the farm brought luck and comfort. The magpie guards the entrance to the Storytelling Museum’s garden, where you’ll find stories, fairy tales, myths, and legends everywhere.

The garden is full of plants that were once used as remedies for all kinds of ailments. Here grows thyme, which helps with almost everything: melancholy, shyness, hiccups, and it even protects against bites from poisonous beasts. The periwinkle protects against lightning strikes, and the rowan predicts the weather. The dragon guards the treasure in the pond, wildflowers bloom on the meadow, which you should place under your pillow on Midsummer’s Eve, and Elder Mother dwells in the elder tree.

In one corner lies the big stone that the giant once hurled at the church. The thumb made a hole in the stone, so now visitors can crawl into the giant’s throw.

CREATORS OF THE GARDEN

The overall design of the garden and the selection of plants were created by the artist Anna-Lena Carsson, Tånneryd and Stockholm.
Kaj Engström, Älmhult, created the dragon in black granite, the giant’s throw, and the magpie on the roof of the Storytelling Museum.
Jan Pol, Odensviholm, designed the portal and fence and sculpted the three trolls.