FACTS
Sunne–Torsby
The Swedish author Selma Lagerlöf’s life, authorship and books have influenced generations of readers, in Sweden and abroad. She has told tales of Värmland’s people and environments, of life in the manors and life of the poor. She has brought people and environments alive with myth and folklore, feelings, dreams, dramas and disappointments. In 1890-91, when she was in her early thirties, Selma Lagerlöf made her debut as a writer with Gösta Berlings Saga. Some years and several books later she was commissioned by Sweden’s general teacher’s association to write a modern schoolbook in geography. The assignment resulted in The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, published in 1907. Two years later Selma Lagerlöf was the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize for literature.
Selma Lagerlöf was born at Mårbacka, but the farm was lost by the family and sold. After Selma had received the Nobel Prize in 1909 she could buy back the farm, which she completely restored and re-built. She then ran successful agriculture on the farm, with many employees, for the rest of her life. The area around Sunne has been strongly influenced by Selma Lagerlöf’s artistry and life. What is Rottneros’s park today was Ekeby in Selma’s story. “Länsmansgården” is written about in Gösta Berlings Saga and “Tossebergsklätten” was in Selma’s tale Gurlitta klätt. The östra ämtervik church was the Svartsjö church in Selma’s story, and Sunne church was renamed Bro church. This is the setting of the introduction of Gösta Berlings Saga “Finally the priest stood in the pulpit”. A contemporary author of importance is Göran Tunström, with books such as Prästungen (the priest’s child), The Christmas Oratorio (which also has been made into a film) and Berömda män som varit i Sunne (Famous men who visited Sunne).
In north-western Värmland and the Norwegian border areas several of Scandinavia’s most well preserved Finn-farms and smoke-houses can be found. In Torsby there is a Finnish culture centre (Finnkulturcentrum), offering interesting exhibitions, books and films. In the region you can visit culture-historically interesting Finn farms with smoke-houses and saunas, as well as other unique cultural buildings with Finnish tradition in the walls, such as the Ritamäki, Myllyla and Karmenkynna Finn farms in Lekvattnet, Purala, Juhola or Ahvenlamminmaki in Röjdåfors, Rickenberget by Bjurberget or Nikkela in Nyskoga.
In Utterbyn, just south of Torsby, lies the culturally and artistically fascinating Sahlströmsgården, . Many of the greatest artists of the early 20th century have been guests and worked here. Today there is a museum, exhibitions, boutique, restaurant and conference centre here. Some kilometres north of Utterbyn lies Heidruns Bokcafé with exhibitions, shop and a café with tasty homebaked treats, well worth a visit.