top of page
Search
  • Writer's pictureDiscovering Folklore

Blog 2 - Jatten Vist

Are You The BFG?


Jatten vist the swedish giant

Would you move heaven and earth for the one you love?

The island of Visingso can be found just off the shore of Lake Vattern, Sweden. Visingso is said to have been discovered some time in the 1130s but this islands formation has a tale of it's own to tell.

As Swedish folklore tells Visingso island was said to to have been created by the giant Jatten Vist in a sweet act of service to his wife. After Vist and his wife enjoyed a trip to Vastergotland to attend a party for the evening upon their departure at the end of the night their trip home would not be an easy one as Vist took one single step clearing the lake he looked back to his wife and noticed her struggles to follow. This prompted Vist to spring into action scooping up a large tuft of earth and grass before gently placing it down into the lake acting as a stepping stone for his beloved wife allowing her to cross with ease and in turn creating what is now known as Visingso island.

The story of Jatten Vist and his wife inspired locals like sculpture Calle Ornemark who began collecting timber from demolition projects to be recycled into a huge sculpture that stands over 36 feet tall located in Huskvarna beside Lake Vattern in 1969 and was once again lovingly restored to it's former glory in 2015 just before Ornemark's passing.


Recent Posts

See All

Comments


Commenting has been turned off.
bottom of page