A visit to Junibacken

The Junibacken is a museum in which popular Swedish fairy tales, the majority of which were written by Astrid Lindgren, are brought to life.  (Astrid Lindgren is a famous and loved Swedish children's author.  In the U.S., she is best known for writing Pippi Longstocking.) 

The first thing that you come to upon entering Junibacken is Storybook Square. You are taken directly into a fantasy town, where children can explore the homes of the popular fairy tale characters.  You can, for example, call on Alfie Atkins, go into his house and see if he is at home. Try cooking in Moominmamma’s kitchen, or feel what it’s like to ride on Mulle Meck’s airplane.

Belle loved the slide

From the storybook village, one boards the storybook train to be transported back in time to meet many of the beloved fairytale characters.  Astrid Lindgren will guide you on a journey that takes you from Madicken’s home in Junibacken to Emil’s house in Lönneberga and then on to Mattisskogen and the other worlds of her popular books. 

I found the fairy tales to be very dark and depressing, and not appropriate for young children.  Most of the fairytale characters met tragic fates.  For example, in one story, a boy jumps out of a burning apartment building with his younger brother on his back in an attempt to save him, and dies in the process.  In another story, two brothers fight a dragon that is terrorizing the town.  In the process, one of the brother becomes paralyzed.  It ends by the healthy brother jumping off a cliff with the paralyzed brother to go to the land of light.  By the end of the storybook train,I was feeling rather depressed and sad and Belle was scared and clinging to us.  Definitely not the happy endings like American fairy tales!

After exiting the train, you find yourself at Pippi Longstocking's house.  Belle was a little too young to enjoy this area.

We had a great time at Junibacken, and it was fun to watch Belle explore the fairytale village.