COMING SOON - The secret farm experience with nomad Daniel
COMING SOON
Daniel comes originaly from Dalarna and is probably Sweden´s biggest nomad who doesn´t fancy working. Instead he dedicates his time with concept development, interior design and organizing boho-chic secret dinners at his farm… say no more!
Dine with the priests Mogens & Lena in a historical mansion
Lakeside
The Story.
Imagine you are driving through the deep, enchanting forests of Sweden. You have got your best friends with you, and there’s a mischievous glint in the air, a premonition that something thrilling is about to happen. Perhaps it’s the atmospheric fog lingering below the treeline, or the surreal setting of the myths and legends of Lapland. All of a sudden, you stop in front of a great historic mansion. Today the mansion stands frozen in time; a glorious relic of the notorious era of the roaring twenties.
Curious, you step inside the imposing front door and are immediately thrown back in time. Clothes are exchanged for authentic 1920’s attire and you are handed a Mary Pickford cocktail to enjoy whilst your charming host gives you a tour of the residence. You explore the property and its enigmatic atmosphere, each room revealing something more spectacular than the last and finally in an unexpected plot twist you are introduced to your two chefs for the evening a Priest couple, Lena and Mogens.
Delight in the wild and outlandish stories regaled by your local hosts over a sumptuous three-course feast, with dishes hand selected from a legendary cookbook that’s over 100 years old. Finish the evening in true flapper style in the glamorous salon where you will enjoy listening to gramophone music from the 1920s and 30s while Mogens, Lena and your host reveal incredible secrets about life in the village and the surrounding wilderness. Relish these thrilling stories you won’t read in any book. Perhaps Lena or Mogens will ask you to dance?
If you are interested in meeting genuine locals to take a “once in a lifetime” story to home with you then you will not be disappointed, although perhaps the tale will be so outrageous that no one will believe you when you attempt to share it…
The Profile.
This is the story of two priests who found the perfect place to combine work, family life and wilderness activities.
Lena who was born and raised on a farm outside Hudiksvall was an active scout growing up. She began her religious studies in 1994 in Umeå and was ordained a priest for Luleå diocese in 2000. She first met her future husband Mogens at a priest meeting in Skellefteå in 2003 and two years later she moved to the village where they would also marry. Even though Lena looks like an innocent female priest she has a licence to kill – moose! She is active in the village’s hunting team and anyone who doesn’t think priests love dancing should watch out for her hidden talents.
Mogens was born into the Danish minority in northern Germany, an educated theologian from Aarhus University in Denmark, he studied his Masters in Kyoto, Japan. During his studies he got the opportunity to work on development projects in East Africa. After his exams he worked in the student parish of Aarhus and in 2003 he became a priest in the village where he later married Lena. Mogens has been working as a mobile priest for the Swedish Church abroad since 2015 so has lots of interesting stories from his travels. He has travelled to various places including India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, South Korea, Japan and the Philippines. As a “flying priest”, he is a celebrant for worship, performs baptisms, weddings and confirmations. He also participates at various events organized by the Chamber of Commerce, Swedish companies or embassies. Less glamourous work is when he visits imprisoned Swedes who wish to make confession and these stories of course are the only ones he cannot divulge.
Story includes:
- Private access to a historical Swedish mansion
- A welcome artisan cocktail & meet & greet with hosts
- Guided tour of the Art Deco property
- 1920´s / 30´s outfits to borrow for the evening
- 3 course menu including drink
- Personal stories from Mogens, Lena and your charming host for you to bring home
When?
All the year around
Additional Activities:
sleep over in the mansion, excursions, wilderness safari, adventure, hunting, workshop
Price Range:
from €€€
Magic Tornedalen with cultural entrepreneur Gunhild Stensmyr
Lakeside
The Story.
Gunhild and her team will host you for at least two nights at the private Arthotel beside the Torneälven river. Her place is a treasure for art lovers and design enthusiasts alike. Her private art collection includes works by some of the most well-known Swedish artists living today, and the interior design is a perfect blend between contemporary and modern and antique. As soon as you have settled in here you will feel your pace of life change. Tornedalen is an exciting place right on the border between Sweden and Finland with a rich history and a fantastic cultural heritage where Swedish, Finnish, Tornedalian and Sami culture are combined – both in language, business, culture and gastronomy. During your stay, you will get the opportunity to experience parts of this secluded place, to meet and learn from local producers and to taste some of the fantastic ingredients Tornedalen has to offer.
Gunhild wants to show the richness of Nordic and Scandinavian food with its connection to the wild origins. The food is all locally produced. Gunhild´s relatives and friends hunt and fish, they pick mushrooms and berries, the villagers bake bread, pitch honey and your housekeeper Simmi cooks your fresh meals every day. Between the home-made meals we will take you on different wildlife excursions and adventures in the surrounding wilderness. Depending on season and weather Gunhild offers plenty of activities, everything from a river boat trip and hunting to dog sledding. She will offer a guided cultural tour around Torneälv, where you will learn about Tornedalen’s history and lifestyle. Our aim is to bring you really close to the local life, introduce you to the villagers and people who value their local traditions. One thing we can promise you is that the moment you leave you will be craving to return and to create more stories to bring home with you!
The Profile.
Gunhild Stensmyr is a well-known cultural entrepreneur in Sweden. She has been active in the art scene around Sweden for many years and has been praised several times for her work and engagement. She was born and raised in Tornedalen with a bachelor’s degree in Archeology, Ethnology and Art History from Lund University. Her early career started as curator and art gallery manager at Bildmuseet and Norrtälje Konsthall. In 1997 she created her own education and consulting company: NICE – NETWORK IN CULTURE. With a talent for culture and art she has been hired as an expert by the EU, state, regions, and municipalities to perform consulting assignments for different municipalities and county councils. Between 2002 and 2012 Gunhild built and managed Skärets konsthall in Höganäs municipality but the strong roots in Tornedalen made her return to her home village for her current project – the Artvillage that has a hotel and art exhibition space.
Her vision is to transform her village of Vitsaniemi-Risudden to a new cultural hotspot in Sweden. The unique hotel is the first development of the cultural destination, inaugurated in 2013. It consists of a variety of charming accommodations, ranging from sleek rooms and cozy cottages to old forest houses and a luxury villa. The art space “Konsthall Tornedalen” is still in progress. Gunhild loves to share her playground by Torneälv with her guests and showcase the best secrets of Tornedalen. Choose between enjoying magical summer nights with the midnight sun or the spectacular Northern Lights during constant darkness of winter. Gunhild´s hotel is one of the most remarkable hideaways of Northern Sweden, no matter the season.
What does moose or reindeer meat taste like? What did princess Victoria and Prince Daniel do at Gunhild´s hotel? What famous artwork hangs on the walls in the hotel? What dramas are going on inbetween the Swedish and Finnish border region? Where is Gunhild´s secret place in Tornedalen?
Story includes:
- Minimum two nights in a room or house category of your choice
- Welcome drink & Tornedals tapas
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, evening meal, supper
- Introduction to the art collection and property´s background with Gunhild
- Excursion to the Luppioberget, a viewpoint overlooking the “Amazon of Sweden”
- Visit to the lookout tower
- Meet the locals with fika
- Sauna experience
- Local give away gift
- Personal stories to bring home from Gunhild Stensmyr
When?
All the year around
Additional Activities:
dine with the locals, private dinner in a scenic place, outdoor cooking, food workshop, boat trip, nature bath, art & craft workshop, Nordic skiing, hiking, dog sledding, snow mobile, canoeing, ice fishing, river fishing, old time fishing, wildlife hunting, bird hunting, bear watching, reindeer herding, picking berries and mushrooms, guided culture tours, arctic night forest our, midnight sun tour, northern light tour, do it twice new year celebration, Santa Claus excursion
Price Range:
from €€