lördag 29 december 2012

Princesse Estelle of Sweden

 
                           Prinsesse Estelle, born in february 2012 is enjoying her first Christmas.

Thomas Becket


 In Lyngsjö church in Scania You find a baptismal font from the 1200s,  showing the murder of Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury.

The motif is unique in the Northern Countries.

Thomas Becket  belonged to  the cistercienserorder and became Archbishop and then came into conflict with King Henry II. Four of the king's men killed him in the cathedral December 29, 1170 when Thomas was on his way to celebrate Vespers.

The news of the murder spread rapidly across Europe and Thomas was canonized already in 1173 by Pope Alexander III. His remains were removed from the cathedral and burned when Henry VIII broke with the Pope and became head of the Church.

Pålsjö Churchyard in Helsingborg with the War cemetery

During the second world war, the allies airforces and greman ariforces flew over swedixh territory.
In 1942 the brittish airfroces bombing increased agaisnt Germany. they flew from England, north of Denmark, in on swedich territory to reach Germany..

 
36 brittish, 9 canadian and 2 australian soldiers/pilots
who crashed close to the Sound, are burried here
on the War Cemetery at Påsljö cemetery

tisdag 2 oktober 2012

Dietrich Buxtehude




Dietrich Buxtehude, the famous organist, worked both in Saint Mary's church on Helsinborg and in Saint Mary's church in Elsinore. The family came originally from Buxtehude, but lived in Oldesloe (today Bad Oldesloe) at the 16th. century, His father first wnet tol Helsingborg, he is written as organsit in Saint Mary's organ in 1641. At this time Dietrich was born
 The family went to Denmark and Elsinore where he was organist  in the Cathedral of Elsinore.
Saint Olai church. They lived in a small , today yellow house, at Saint Anne's Street. While in Elsinore. Dietrich Buxtehude became organist first in Helsingborg from 1657, at the age of twenty to 1660. From 1658 Scania belonged to Sweden and perhaps that 's the reason for him to go back to Elsinore
Saint Mary's church was a german church during this time.
Dietrich Buxtehude waas very popular and became godfather to many children in Elsinore

1668 he went to Lübeck and got the post of organist in the Saint Mary's church.
He had to marry the former organist's daughter to get the post. The couple got seven girls, four of them became adults.

Johann Sebastian Bach walked all the way fro m Lüneburger Heide to Lübevck , just to listen to Dietrich Buxtehude playing the organ.

Dietrich Buxtehude died 1707 and was buried in Marienkirche (Saint Mary's church) in Lübeck.

torsdag 27 september 2012

Shakespeare and Kronborg Castle


"To be or not to be, that is the question........"




We all remember the words of Hamlet, and the play that takes place on the Kronborg castle.
There are no evidences that Shakespeare ever went to Elsinore to see the castle.
 King Frederik II loved banquetes, music and theater. He invited english actors and musicians to Elsinore to entertain at the court.  They lived on the Bramstraede.
For the building of the Kronborg Castle he invited german and dutch craftsmen and artists.
Elsinore was during the 16th and 17th century a cosmopolitical city.

Here came sailors, seecaptens, actors, craftsmen and merchants from all over Europe.
The castle is today on the World Heritige list of Unesco and over 200.000 turists visit it every year
Both the castel and the surroundings are being restored. "The Culturharbour Elsinore" is the name of this interesting project.

Visit the site www.kulturomraade.dk


onsdag 19 september 2012

Sainte Magnhild of Fulltofta

 Saint Magnhild of Fulltofta is one of three female scanian saints


Magnhild was a pious woman who lived in Blenarp, in the middle of Scania ,during the 13th century
She helped the sick, the orphans and the poor.
For som reason her daughter in law, killed her.
When her coffin was transported to the church of Fulltofta, the men who were carrying it, stopped for a pause.
This was at Hästhaga.
A source floated, close to the coffin.

Her coffin was placed on the Fulltofta churchyard until the 18th century when it and the gravestone disappeard.
At her gravestone many wonders and miracles took place and many people came to visit it.
During the 14th century her grave became the nest for players and singers who sung lascivious songs and danses, drank and behaved badly.
Therefore the archbishop of Lund, Magnus Nilsson decided to move her remnants, which were taken to the Cathedral of Lund. Probably they were placed close to her protector Archbishop Anders Sunesens grave.
Magnhild never was canonised but she had saint-like status.

The beautiful little church of Fulltofta was built in the 12th century and inside are modern painted glasswindows by Hugo Gehlin, which presents the life of Magnhild. She is teaching children, taking care of the sick, with a halo and getting killed by an arrow.





 






tisdag 18 september 2012

The Monastery of Herrevad, the first monastery for monks in Denmark

This chapel is the only remain of the monastery of Herrevad, the first monastery in Denmark, when Scania was part of the danish kingdom.

It was the archbishop of Lund, Eskil, who invited 12 monks and an abbot and some laymen to
Herrevad by the Rönne river to start a cicstercienser monastery for monks in 1144. They came from the cistersiencer monastery in  Citeaux in France. The laymen were farmers and crasftsmen and millers.

The Cistercienser orden was a practical working order, They were placed where there were good natural resources, hydropower, pastures, fishing, forestry and minerals. They were also missionairies and interested in arhcitecture.

Perhaps stoneworkers came fro Lund, when the cathedral was built and helped with the building of the monastery.

After the reformation the property was handed over to the danish magnate Sten Bille, uncle to Tyko Brahe, the famous danish astronomer, who spent a lot of time at Herrevad. Her he also saw Stella Nova

 Sten Bille together with Tyko Brahe constructed the first paperpress in the Nordic Countries 1570. Here the papermill, later called  "Klippan" started which still is active.

torsdag 13 september 2012

Esrum kloster

Esrum monastery in Zealand was constructed in 1151, after the monastery in Herrestad. Earlier here was a Benedictin monastery. It was the archbishop Eskol of Lund who took the initiative. Bernard of Clairvaux was a good friend of Eskil.

Esrum monastery became so rich och had such big influence, that by the time of the reformation it owned a third of all properties in norhern Zealand. After the reformation it was taken over by the Crown.

Today, the twostorey wing is what's left of the monastery. Today it's a very nice museum.

From the reformation to the 18th century it became a stud farm for the king.

It is open to week 42, thirsday to sunday- 10.30-16.30

During the winterseason, thursday to sunday- 11-16

söndag 9 september 2012

Fredriksborgs Castle on Zealand

 
Fredriksborg castle on Zealand in Denmark was built during the reign of Christan IV.
With it's baroquegarden, on of the finest in northern Eurospe, it is a lovely place to visit.
It is open from the 1 of november to the friday before the Palm sunday 11-15
The rest of the year 10-17.

It is placed at Hilleröd, close to Elsinore.
It was Fredrik II who took over a smaller property, and layed out channels for watersupply.
His son Christian IV, tore down most of the buildings and had a new magnificent castle built in dutch-danish renaissancestyle, probably with help from the builderfamily Steenwinckel.

In 1859 the castle was partly destroyed by fire, but rebuilt. The brewer J.C. Jacobsen, owner of the Carlsberg brewery payed for new inventories.

The castlechurch is the most magnificent churchroom from the renaissance time, in Denmark.

tisdag 4 september 2012

Harehunting on Ven, 1891, 5 september

On the Island Ven, in the middle of the Sound, between Seden and Denmark, hares were inplanted
1850-1877. The King had the huntingrights until 1917.

Hunting has always been important, during all times. On plenty of the old maps from teh 16th century there is always a hunter, some hares and other animals depicted.

From the middle of the 19th century the royal huntings dominated.

The most glorius hunt was on the 5th of september in 1891. In the huntingjournal it says:
Shot hares: 130, Number of shoots: 400, Number of hunters:28,  Hence the King: 12
Weather: Good, +19 Farenheit. Note: The Russian Tsar.

The swedish king Oscar II, had invited eleven royal guests. The guest of honor wa the russsian Tsar Alexander III. The others were Christian IX of Denmark, King Georg of Greece, the russian heir, later Emperor Nikolaus II, the english prince George, later king George V, the future danish kings Fredrik VIII and Christian X and the greek princes Nikolaus and Konstantin, who also became king
in due time.

torsdag 30 augusti 2012

Taverns in Scania: Röstånga Tavern




Some of the taverns in Scania are from medieval times. The scanian roads were difficult to use, beacause  the soil is full of clay. Most of the transports during this time were doen by using the waterrouts.

In 1650  the government decided that there should be a skjutshåll and tavern each 2 miles.
The farmers had to keep watch 24 hours each. It is a swedish invention and Röstånga tavern is from 1647, it was the mentioned in the churchbooks for the first time. Therefore It is one of the oldest and there were 33 other taverns in Scania.

Close to the tavern You can visit the lake "Oden" and the Natural Park "Söderåsen"
The lake Oden is cirkular and is surrounded by 30 meters high branter.It is 150 meters in diameter and is 19 meters deep.
In the summertime there are concerts here.

Söderåsen is a horst, created for 150 million years ago. Kopparhatten has a fantastic vieuw
over the ridge. It consists of gneiss and granite gneiss.
Man has farmed the land here since the ironage.

torsdag 23 augusti 2012

Kullaberg

Kullaberg, the first part that became free from the ice, after the the glacial period, 15.000 years ago.
The harsh winds swept along the landscape at first.
13.000-12.000 b. c., the cliamte became warmer and there are traces of polarbears. Small birches, later pinetrees grew here. It was like teh mountains in the north, today.

Around 9000 b.c. Man emerges as hunter and fisherman. He was followed by reindeer and wild horses. In the forets there were mooses, a lot of fish in the sea,  birds, roedeers, wild boars.
The first find of humans was here at Kullen.

It was plenty of time, plenty of food, plenty of time and plenty of space- can it get any better?

Kullaberg, as flung out int he foaming waves of Cattegat, is a primary rock, 70 meters of reddish gneiss and a climbers paradise.

A lot of danes come here to climb. Here You can also ride horses, both islandic and haflinger.

You also find a lot of caves, walking paths, golf coarses, rare birds and wiews extending for miles and miles, hotels and cafés



tisdag 21 augusti 2012

Nimis

On Kullaberg, northwestern part of Scania, You can take walk down to the beach and find this work of art   "Nimis"

The artist is Lars Wilks and this is a conseptual work of art, placed in a naturereserve.
It is made by driftwood and consists of sparsely nailed together planks and tree branches forming passageways, rooms and towers. Construction of Nimis began in July 1980 and it was Vilks revenge on the sea after he almost had drowned, but also as a reaction to the trend prevailing in the arts, "nothing was resistant".

It also became the start of a long legal process, it was considered by the authorities as an illegal construction.

This legal process was also considered by the artist as a part of the work of art.

Nimis was sold to the german artist Joseph Boyes, and when he passed away, Jeanne Claude and Christo became owner.

Close to Nimis, Lthe artist has built , the book Arx, in concrete and stone. He also proclamed the area with Nimis and Arx , as the land Landonia.

It its difficult to visit Nimis, it is not a safe tour and several people have been injured, on the way down.

There has also been a lot of protest against this building in a naturereserve.

At the moment the artist is living under protection of the police after a work of art  that is considered as blasphemy by muslim groups

torsdag 14 juni 2012

What is so rare about june?

Picture taken at the Sofiero Castle in Helsingborg

What is So Rare As a Day in June
AND what is so rare as a day in June?
Then, if ever, come perfect days;
Then Heaven tries earth if it be in tune,
And over it softly her warm ear lays;
Whether we look, or whether we listen,
We hear life murmur, or see it glisten;
Every clod feels a stir of might,
An instinct within it that reaches and towers,
And, groping blindly above it for light,
Climbs to a soul in grass and flowers;
The flush of life may well be seen
Thrilling back over hills and valleys;
The cowslip startles in meadows green,
The buttercup catches the sun in its chalice,
And there's never a leaf nor a blade too mean
To be some happy creature's palace;
The little bird sits at his door in the sun,
Atilt like a blossom among the leaves,
And lets his illumined being o'errun
With the deluge of summer it receives;
His mate feels the eggs beneath her wings,
And the heart in her dumb breast flutters and sings;
He sings to the wide world, and she to her nest,
In the nice ear of Nature which song is the best?

Now is the high-tide of the year,
And whatever of life hath ebbed away
Comes flooding back with a ripply cheer,
Into every bare inlet and creek and bay;
Now the heart is so full that a drop overfills it,
We are happy now because God wills it;
No matter how barren the past may have been,
'Tis enough for us now that the leaves are green;
We sit in the warm shade and feel right well
How the sap creeps up and the blossoms swell;
We may shut our eyes but we cannot help knowing
That skies are clear and grass is growing;
The breeze comes whispering in our ear,
That dandelions are blossoming near,
That maize has sprouted, that streams are flowing,
That the river is bluer than the sky,
That the robin is plastering his house hard by;
And if the breeze kept the good news back,
For our couriers we should not lack;
We could guess it all by yon heifer's lowing,
And hark! How clear bold chanticleer,
Warmed with the new wine of the year,
Tells all in his lusty crowing!

Joy comes, grief goes, we know not how;
Everything is happy now,
Everything is upward striving;
'Tis as easy now for the heart to be true
As for grass to be green or skies to be blue,
'Tis for the natural way of living:
Who knows whither the clouds have fled?
In the unscarred heaven they leave not wake,
And the eyes forget the tears they have shed,
The heart forgets its sorrow and ache;
The soul partakes the season's youth,
And the sulphurous rifts of passion and woe
Lie deep 'neath a silence pure and smooth,
Like burnt-out craters healed with snow.

James Russell Lowell

tisdag 12 juni 2012

HE



In Elsinore, the city of Hamlet, with the castle Kronborg, You can now visit a new sculpture, named He.
It is a male counterpart to the national icon "The little mermaid" in Copenhagen.
The danish-norwegian artduo Elmgreen  and Dragset has made this sculpture in stainless, polished steel.
"He" is placed close to the CultureDocks in the harbour area. "He" sits like te little mermaid on a stone, locking put over the sea. The size is almost the same. It also tells us about togetherness and isolation. All alone on a winters day and admired by many a warm summersday. Once, every hour the statue flashes with his eyes.
The artists were much appreciated at the Venedig Biennal 2009 with "The Collectors" and with "Poweless structures. Fig 101" on Trafalgar Square in London.

måndag 11 juni 2012

Guided Tours in Scania

If You are interested in a guided tour in Scania, with an authorized guide, You can contact me on the following adresses:

www.fabulosa.se


This picture is taken from the beatiful Sofiero garden in Helsingborg.
In the background You see Kronborg Castle in Elsinore, Denmark


www.excursiopedia.com  search for Helsingborg

söndag 6 maj 2012

Storytelling Textiles- www.biedesign.dk

http://www.biedesign.dk

A beautiful scarf in 100 % silk, with historical motive. Doesn´t that sound lovely.
Katja Bie, danish designer produce scarves and neckties with runaralphabet from the Jellingestone in Denmark, with patterns from danish castles fro´m the 16th century, with petroglyphs or from the sagas of Hans Christian Andersen.

Visit her webshop or take a trip to Elsinore in Denmark, to the Kronborg castles where You find her in the old defense buildings " Kronvaerkerne". Here You also find other talented artists, but make shure You make a stop at Storytelling Textiles.

At a visit at Kronborg, Prince Charles and Camilla got a necktie and a scarf from Katja Bie.

The picture comes from Biedesigns hemsida

måndag 12 mars 2012

Estelle Silvia Ewa Mary




Estelle Silvia Eva Mary is the name of the newborn swedish princesse.

She is also Duchesse over the landscape Östergötland.

It is unique for the swedish monarchy's history with two female heir in a row.

By the time the swedish landscape Scania belonged to Denmark, we had a queen by the name Margareta I , the so called Union Queen who ruled over both Denmark, Sweden och Norway during the 14th century until 1412.

The name Estelle comes from Estelle Bernadotte, wife to Folke Bernadotte who helped

prisoners from the nazi concentrationcamps to the safety in Sweden. These refugies

came first to Helsingborg.

A new princesse is born in Sweden




a new princesse was born in Stockholm, Sweden.

Both the mother, crownprincesse Viktoria and the child is well, as the father, Prince Daniel.

The Swedish Monarchy is one of the oldest in the world and its traditions go back 1000 years. The number of regents is over 70.

Crownprincesse Viktorias father, Carl Gústav XVI is the seventh king on the thrown belonging to the family Bernadotte.

When the French marshal Jean Baptiste Bernadotte was elected to the Swedish throne at the Diet of Örebro in August 1810, a new order of succession: one of the Swedish Constitution.
Bernadotte dynasty held the throne of Sweden since 1818th

Prince Daniel comes from an ordinary swedish family and there were some resistence against him marrying the crownprincesse. But they conquered the resistance and the ordinary man got his Princesse in 2010.

Daniel has shown himself most worthy of his assignment and the couple is very popular.

Tomorrow the name of the princesse will be revealed by the grandfather Carl Gustav XVI

at a cabinetmeating.

Ven and Thyko Brahe




On the beatiful island Ven, placed in the Sound, between Scania and Seeland, the world famous astronomer Tycho Brahe lived and worked for 21 years during the 16th century.

He had found the star "Stella Nova" in the constellation Casioppeia and hade gotten worldreputation. The danish king Fredrik II, who ordered the building of Kronborg Castle

gave the island Ven to Tycho Brahe for his research. Here many prominent people visited the castle and the observatory. Among others Jacob IV of Scottland who was married to the daughter of Fredrik II, Anne.

The month of may is the best time for a visit to the island.

Lena Maria Klingvall




Lena Maria Klingvall is a singer, an artist and a writer. She is known in many countries all over the world.

1968 she was born in Sweden and she learned how to swim at the age of three.

She participated in the Paralympics and won two silvermedals.

As a singer she has been touring in Sweden and abroad.

This fantastic woman has received the award. " Professional woman of the year"

You can read more about her on http://lenamaria.multiply.com

She is an inspiration to us all, as she shows that anything is possible and to never give up.

The battle of Svolder




On 9 September, year 1000 the Battle of Svolder took place somewhere in the Baltic Sea. Adam van Bremen felt that it was near the island of Ven in the Öresund, Snorre Sturlasson and Saxo Grammaticus near Rügen.

The date, is of course not certain, but when I found it , I thought it was suitable to write about the battle today

The most famous description is in the "Heimskringla" of Snorri Sturlasson.
and you can find it if you search for Tacitus on Internet

It was Sven Forkbeard, son of Harald Bluetooth, Olof Skötkonung , the son of Erik Victorious, Eirik's son, Earl of Lade who fought Olavi Tryggvasson, king of Norway 995-1000.

Ormen Lange was named Olaf's ship, and it is described like this in the Heimskringla:

"The winter after King Olaf's return from Halogaland he had to travel a large ship in Ladhamrarna, much larger than any other ship, which at that time were in the country, one can still see it that the back riser is left. There was grass added, was seventy-four cubits long. Tribal Blacksmith of the ship was Torberg Skavhugg, but many others were used there, some dropping, some to carve, some beating seam, others to bring wood. Everything was done in the most caring way and the ship was both long and wide and wide across the tables and built of large logs. .... It was a dragon, made like the snake, which the king had brought from Halogaland, but this ship was much bigger and in all respects, more carefully done. The king called the Ormen Lange and the other dragon snake Korte. On the snake was thirty-room, head and tail were guldbeslagna and tables as high as at sea ships. Norway has never been a better ship or with higher costs. "

The battle ended with Olaf lost the battle when he fell into an ambush and most likely he drowned

The battle of Svolder




On 9 September, year 1000 the Battle of Svolder took place somewhere in the Baltic Sea. Adam van Bremen felt that it was near the island of Ven in the Öresund, Snorre Sturlasson and Saxo Grammaticus near Rügen.

The date, is of course not certain, but when I found it , I thought it was suitable to write about the battle today

The most famous description is in the "Heimskringla" of Snorri Sturlasson.
and you can find it if you search for Tacitus on Internet

It was Sven Forkbeard, son of Harald Bluetooth, Olof Skötkonung , the son of Erik Victorious, Eirik's son, Earl of Lade who fought Olavi Tryggvasson, king of Norway 995-1000.

Ormen Lange was named Olaf's ship, and it is described like this in the Heimskringla:

"The winter after King Olaf's return from Halogaland he had to travel a large ship in Ladhamrarna, much larger than any other ship, which at that time were in the country, one can still see it that the back riser is left. There was grass added, was seventy-four cubits long. Tribal Blacksmith of the ship was Torberg Skavhugg, but many others were used there, some dropping, some to carve, some beating seam, others to bring wood. Everything was done in the most caring way and the ship was both long and wide and wide across the tables and built of large logs. .... It was a dragon, made like the snake, which the king had brought from Halogaland, but this ship was much bigger and in all respects, more carefully done. The king called the Ormen Lange and the other dragon snake Korte. On the snake was thirty-room, head and tail were guldbeslagna and tables as high as at sea ships. Norway has never been a better ship or with higher costs. "

The battle ended with Olaf lost the battle when he fell into an ambush and most likely he drowned

Kronborg castle in Elsinore




The beautiful renaissance castle Kronborg in Elsinore, seen from the ferry that crosses the Sound "Öresund" between Helsingborg and Elsinore in twenty minutes. This castle was built during the reign of Frederic II of Denmark. He lived here sometimes and often had

feasts with music and actors to entertain. These musicians and actors came from England and lived in Elsinore while they were entertaining at Frederics court.

There is no evidence that Shakespear ever was in Elsinore and it is most likely that he got the information of how the castle looked like from the artists. Perhaps he also read the old history from 5th century about a danish prince Amled in Saxo Grammaticus book about the history of the Danes "Gesta danorum" This year the english actor Joshua McGuire plays Hamlet on the coartyard of Kronborg castle.

The castle is on Unescos world heritage list and every year comes around 200.000 tourists here to visit it.

Viken, a litte fishing hamlet along the Sound

The little fishinghamlet Viken lies along the coastline on the Kullapaeninsula. It is first mentioned in the 16th century. Today the buildings from the 19th century, dominates the hamlet, beatiful and wellpreserved halftimbered cottages.
The beach towards Mölle is full of stoneblocks from the latest iceage. The Kullapaeninsula have been inhabited for more than 10.000 years.




In Viken You can visit a house from the late 19th century "Paul Jönska Huset". Here the seacapten Paul Jönsson lived with his family and You can see inside how a family in those days lived. The house is open during the summer, on sundays between 15-17. The garden is open all year around.

Helsingborg and one of its many sculptures




In the north harbour of Helsingborg, You find the new culturehouse "Dunkers Kulturhus" , the architect is Kim Utzon who creates buildings in a sculptural, continental style.

The statue, in front of the Culturehouse, is called Cosmic room. The sculptors name is  Bengt Amundin. It was created in 1955 for the exhibition H55.


This beatiful lake, Västersjön, near Ängelholm in the North-west part of Scania has clear, clean water.
Here You can swim, go fishing, take wonderful walks in the woods.

Henrik Larsson



In Helsingborg, in Scania, Sweden You find a bronzesculpture of our famous footballplayer Henrik Larsson.

He is placed along the beatiful bordwalk of Helsingborg, In the bakcground You find an old bath from the late 19th century. You also get a glimpse of the lovely road that leads to Kullaberg.

Born in 1971 he is now a footballplayer-manager for Landskrona BoIs. He has played for Feyenoord for four years, then left for Celtic in 1997. He won four league titles in seven years with Celtic, scoring 242 goals in 315 competitive matches. In 2004 he went to Barcelona. LAter he returned to his hometown Helsingborg where he played in HIF

He announced his retirement from football on 20 October 2009

The sculptors name is Björn Elmert

Helsingborg




The halftimbered house with red brickfilling is from the 17th century, owned by a merchant by the name Jacob Hansen

Fredriksdal- the openairmuseum in Helsingborg




Fredriksdal, the openair museum in Helsingborg is Scania in miniature, with buildings, systematical garden, botanical garden, old sorts of animals, kitchen garden and flowerbeds






This pig is a "Linderödssvin", from the Linderöds ridge in Scania

The Sound



Here in the Öresund Parc in Helsingborg, You get a glimpse of Öresund, the gateway to the Baltic Sea, one of the livliest sounds in the world. It its only 4 kilometers to Denmark and Elsinore

Kronovall castle



From the beginning the castle Kronovall was a simple manor, but during the 19th century it was changed into a romanitc castle. It was the work of the swedish architect from Stockholm, Isak G. Clason, inspired by barock architecture.

1991 the castle Kronovall was donated to the wineproducer Åkesson and got the name "Vinecastle"

Here is a splendid restaurant, run by Thomas Drejing, who units modern swedish coking with old traditions and innovation.

e-mail: kronovall@petripumpa.se

Kvistofta church



The church of Kvistofta, lies peacefully in the countryside, surrounded by fields and the Råå valley.

The wonderful adventures of Nils



Once there was a boy. He was--let us say--something like fourteen yearsold; long and loose-jointed and towheaded. He wasn't good for much, thatboy. His chief delight was to eat and sleep; and after that--he likedbest to make mischief.It was a Sunday morning and the boy's parents were getting ready to goto church. The boy sat on the edge of the table, in his shirt sleeves,and thought how lucky it was that both father and mother were goingaway, and the coast would be clear for a couple of hours. "Good! Now Ican take down pop's gun and fire off a shot, without anybody's meddlinginterference," he said to himself.But it was almost as if father should have guessed the boy's thoughts,for just as he was on the threshold--ready to start--he stopped short,and turned toward the boy. "Since you won't come to church with motherand me," he said, "the least you can do, is to read the service at home.Will you promise to do so?" "Yes," said the boy, "that I can do easyenough." And he thought, of course, that he wouldn't read any more thanhe felt like reading."This story is written by Selma Lagerlöf, the first woman to win the Nobleprice in litterture . She was born in Värmland, in the western part of Sweden, but this book for children starts in Scania, south of the highway. Nils, the boy, is transformed into a thumbietot and flies away on a goose, all around Sweden.The first chapters is about his home, his transformation and of the Scanian landscape

Andrarum and the alummill




In Andrarum , on Österlen in Scania there has been an alummill since 1637. The mill was bought by Christina Piper in 1725 and she made it one of the most prosperous industries in Sweden. She had become a warwidow at the age of 27 and she had five children .Alun was a much sought-after product that had many different uses. First, it was a haemostatic and disinfecting agents, and so it was used as fix colours in the textile industry. It is also used alum in tanneries and to smooth surface on the paper. She had about 900 employees and the alummill produced between 4000 and 5000 barrels of alum a year: about 600 tons. There were no machines all the work were made by the men, women and children The working day began at 4 am with an hour of prayer. In the winter, the working day lasted to 6 or 7 pm. The mill became a state in the state. Rules and laws were made by Christina Piper.On the premisis there was an infirmary, a nursing home and a school. All workers would pay part of their salary to a social fund, The salary paid in half food and half the money, money consisted of notes and coins with the initials CP on. The money was made by Christina Piper and could only be used in the mills area.In the late 19th century, German chemists found out ow to produce alum chemically and the mill was closed down in 1912.

Stenestads church




In the little village Stenestad, up on "Söderåsen" lies the church of Stenestad. This church is the highest placec church in Scania, 188 meters above the sea. It was built in the 12th century in romanesque style.After a visit in the church You can walk down the road to "Mormors Bod"(Grandma's shop) where You can drink a nice cup of coffee and eat homebaked cookies (baked with butter!) The road up to the church, from Norra Vram to Stenestad is breathtaking and worth the whole trip.