by Maria Samuelsson

Created on: April 21, 2008

Scandinavia holds a number of suprises. One of which is a small village in Central Sweden called Tallberg. It began as a small community of farmers on the shores of Lake Siljan perhaps a thousand years ago. Over the years it developed the classic Nordic culture which hallmarks Sweden as a country supportive of Scandinavian folklore and handcrafts.

During the nineteenth century, Tallberg and its surrounding neighbors came to the attention of urbanized Sweden because of its many folk traditions which were rapidly losing ground to modernization and industrialization. A number of intellectuals and artists from Stockholm embraced Tallberg with the intent of creating a cultural legacy for the whole of Sweden. As a result, the Dala region today offers the traveler a wide variety of cultural and natural gifts to enjoy.

Thanks to the climate which is naturally cool and dry, the wooden farm buildings have survived almost in their entirety. Some of the structures date before the sixteenth century. Here you will see a style of architecture which is quintessentially Swedish. It is a particularly Scandinavian combination of natural elements: wood, stone, and earth. Set by Lake Siljan, it makes for a most picturesque holiday and draws visitors from around the world. When visiting, bring a jacket and socks. The nights can be cool.

Just three hours from Stockholm by train, and a little more by car, the village of Tallberg has a number of intimate hotels for tourists which defy the usual "tourist trade" definition. The amenities are modern, but the hotels retain the ambiance of a leisurely older era. My favorite for atmosphere and intimacy is the Tallbergsgarden Pensionat built in 1875. But Akerblads Hotell is nice, too, and has a wonderful smorgasbord. For history buffs, the oldest section of Akerblads dates from 1460.

During the Midsummer holiday season, art and cultural events abound. Dance events, art exhibits, museum exhibits, folkmusic, church concerts, and village celebrations all crowd the calendar from June to August. The main event is, of course, the midsummer celebration or Midsommar, which is in June. All the villages, Tallberg included, turn out in native costume to dance around the village May pole. Folkmusic abounds, and the color, sound, and excitement make lovely memories and colorful impressions.

If you plan to visit, try to make your reservations early. The holiday is very popular in Sweden, and the hotels fill up quickly for Midsommar.

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