Svaneholm Castle

Did you know that one of the Nordic region’s most famous children’s stories begins at Svaneholm Castle in southern Skåne? In Selma Lagerlöf’s classic The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, we meet the boy Nils, who one day is transformed into a tiny gnome and flies away on the back of a wild goose. His extraordinary journey across Sweden’s landscapes begins in this very part of Skåne, around Svaneholm, with lakes, fields, forests, and a rich birdlife as a backdrop.

Svaneholm - more than a castle

Svaneholm is not just a historic castle, but also the starting point for a story that for over a hundred years has opened children’s eyes to nature, geography, and imagination. This storytelling heritage now forms the basis for the new playground at the castle.

The playground as children’s gateway

The playground is designed as children’s own gateway to Svaneholm – a place where the castle’s world can be experienced at a child’s level and through play. Here, children can “play” a harp inspired by the castle’s music salons, explore stories from the library collections, and discover the park’s nature with trees, birds, and hidden paths.

More than swings and climbing frames

The playground is intended to be more than a place with swings and climbing frames. It should spark curiosity, provide space for reflection, and invite children to continue their exploration – into the castle, out into the park, and into the stories.

A gateway to Svaneholm

In this way, the playground becomes a gateway to Svaneholm: a place where play, literature, music, and nature meet, and where new generations can begin their own journey into a living cultural environment.