Jätten Vist

Curious to see what the giant who created Visingsö might have looked like? Visit Strandvägen in Huskvarna, where local artist Calle Örnemark’s sculpture of Jätten Vist stands tall.

The wooden sculpture, erected in 1969 and restored in 2015, reaches an impressive height of 11.2 meters. It’s hard to miss this remarkable artwork if you’re traveling on the E4 between Jönköping and Gränna.

The legend of Visingsö

In the southern part of lake Vättern lies the island of Visingsö. It is by far the largest island in Vättern, stretching 14 kilometers in length and 3 kilometers at its widest point. According to legend, Visingsö did not end up in its location by chance, it was, in fact, a romantic gesture from a man to his beloved wife...

Vättern, Sweden’s second-largest lake, is famous for its depth. The southern part of the lake is open, except for a large island situated right between the provinces of Västergötland and Småland. According to folklore, the island’s placement was no coincidence.

One evening, the giant Vist and his wife attended a feast in Västergötland. Whether they were visiting friends or family is unknown, but they had a pleasant evening. When it was time to return home to Småland, the giant Vist easily stepped across the lake. However, his wife struggled to make the journey in a single stride. She asked her husband to place a mound in the lake so she could step on it. The giant Vist did just that, and in the very moment he helped his beloved wife, he also created Visingsö—a stunning island that today is a popular destination.

Next to the sculpture is café Kroatorpet, where you can enjoy a fika and park your car if you’d like to take a closer look at Giant Vist.

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