Spellbound by Sweden: Sweden has a Captivating New Tourism Initiative – But There’s a Catch!

photo: Johan Wennerström/Visit Sweden

Spellbound by Sweden is a compelling new tourism initiative by Visit Sweden in which travelers are invited to discover the Swedish forests filled with fairies, trolls and other mythical creatures through a 30-minute audio story titled Kiln authored by internationally acclaimed writer John Ajvide Lindqvist (often referred to as the Swedish Stephen King).

But here’s the catch: You can only listen to Kiln in the Swedish forest!

Location: Falkenberg, Sweden. Photo: Jerker Andersson/imagebank.sweden.se

I’m not kidding – the audio story, which is available for free on the Visit Sweden website, is geo-restricted so you can only listen to it in certain Swedish National Parks and Forests, including Åsnen National Park – Småland, Tiveden National Park – Närke and Västergötland, Tresticklan National Park – West Sweden, Tyresta National Park – Sörmland, Fulufjället National Park – Dalarna, Vålådalen Nature Reserve – Jämtland, and Muddus National Park – Swedish Lapland.

The forests of Sweden possess both beauty and tranquility – they are steeped in drama and mystique and have evoked a rich tradition of storytelling. In the audio story Kiln, author John Ajvide Lindqvist, pays tribute (in a sometimes spooky way), to the fact that Sweden’s forests have always played an integral role in it’s culture and folklore.

photo: Johan Wennerström/Visit Sweden

In Kiln, Lindqvist has brought some of Sweden’s mythological creatures to life in a chilling tale and audio story. Kiln, which is eerily told entirely in the first person, invites the listeners to not just hear the story, but rather to be part of the experience with all of their senses.  It begins with you walking into the forest, and discovering the remains of a kiln, an ancient earth pit used to make charcoal. Soon enough, you wander off and encounter various mythological beings, until you’re finally mesmerized by a huldra – a seductive forest nymph. This experience, as the story goes, will always compel you to return to Sweden.

Spellbound by Sweden – the mythical creature Huldra

Spellbound by Sweden – the Trailer

You can watch the trailer of Spellbound by Sweden here:

The message is clear – Through this unique medium, Visit Sweden wants you to know that Sweden, as a tourist destination, is so much more than just Stockholm and Gothenburg (though I must say that those cities are pretty marvelous in their own right).

I have listened to Kiln and was captivated by it. It is written and narrated so well that it feels as good or better than other immersive experiences. If you are traveling to Sweden, take a few hours to visit a forest and experience Kiln for yourself. (then come back and tell me what you thought of it).

Photo of author John Ajvide Linqvist in the forest:

photo: Johan Wennerström/Visit Sweden