Visitors to the Skåne region of Sweden have the opportunity to visit a country within a country. Few know about the micronation of Ladonia and its great sculpture Nimis, because officially it does not exist.
The Creator of Nimis
Lars Vilks is the Swedish artist and former professor perhaps best known for the international controversy generated by his 2007 depiction of Muhammad as a roundabout dog—a form of street installation popular in Sweden. Vilks made a series of drawings on the subject, one of which was published in a Swedish newspaper, resulting in protest, condemnation, and threats to Vilks’ life. However it was many years before that he created the sculptures of Arx and Nimis.
The Building of Nimis
In 1980 Vilks began work on two sculptures within a nature reserve in Skåne, Sweden; he made Nimis from driftwood and Arx from stone. Two years after their creation, Nimis and Arx were discovered and the local council demanded that they be removed, saying that building within a nature reserve was illegal. Vilks repeatedly appealed the ruling but lost each time.
Nimis and the Founding of Ladonia
In 1996, in protest at the council’s decision, Lars Vilks declared the founding of the independent nation of “Ladonia,” in which to house Nimis and Arx. There are said to be 14,000 Ladonian citizens, citizenship is acquired by simply filling in an application form, nobility costs $12. Ladonia has its own ministry—including ministers of “Duct-Tape” and “The Dark Side”--royal family, flag, currency (Örtug), postal service and two national anthems. All of which is largely theoretical, as nobody actually lives in Ladonia—“all of its citizens are nomads”, says the official website—and the entire nation covers only one square kilometre of land.
Description of Nimis
Nimis, the larger of the two structures, is a collection of huge wooden sculptures that lead down and on to the rocky shore of Kullaberg Nature Reserve in Skåne, Sweden. Visitors actually walk through the maze-like structures as they walk down to the shore.
Where is Nimis?
Because Ladonia is not a recognized nation, and because Nimis is still officially illegal, there is no mention of Nimis, Arx or Ladonia on any official map. The nearest town is Mölle, from where it is easy to locate the old preserved farmstead Himmelstorp, where the path to Nimis begins. Visitors are guided by yellow ‘N’s or ‘Nimis’s painted on tree trunks, gates and stones. Many of the painted signs give an indication of the remaining distance to Nimis, but be warned that they are inaccurate and perhaps deliberately misleading. The walk can be difficult in parts as there are some steep climbs over rocks and trees involved. Good walking shoes are recommended.
What Else is in the Area?
The nearby town of Mölle is a small resort town with a scenic harbour. Particularly popular with visitors in the summertime, Mölle offers opportunities for dining, shopping, walking and sailing. Höganäs is another small town with a pleasant harbour popular with visitors from all over Sweden, and Malmö, Sweden’s third largest city, is around 100 kilometres south.
Resources:
Ladonia, proud, free and interactive!
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