Lasse-Maja Grottan

Useful Information

Location:	Järnforsen, 570 19 Pauliström. From Järnforsen follow signs to Entsebo, from the turnoff 2 km. Park the car at the road, follow single-lane gravel road on the left 300 m. (57.4365235, 15.6231429)
Open:	No restrictions. [2024]
Fee:	free. [2024]
Classification:	Talus Cave
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Lasse-Maja Grottan, Järnforsen, 570 19 Pauliström. Hultsfreds Turistinformation, Västra Långgatan 46, 577 30 Hultsfred, Tel: +46-10-354-20-10. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1612	the people of Klövdala village seek shelter in the cave from the Danes during the Kalmar War.

Description

Lasse-Maja Grottan (Lasse-Maja Cave) is also called Stora Lassa Kammare (Big Lassa Chamber) or Skattegömman (Treasure Hiding Place). Actually Stora Lassa Kammare is the older name, but despite the name there are actually two large rooms covered by a huge boulder. The cave is easily entered climbing down a wooden ladder through a rather narrow shaft. So it was actually a little tricky to find the cave, and it was always a good hiding place. In 1612, during the Kalmar War (1611–1613), the people of Klövdala village sought shelter in the cave from the Danes. The village was burned down by marauding Danish troops, but the inhabitants survived. An old document from 1614 in the court of Målilla confirms the Klövdal incident, although the cave is actually not mentioned.

Lasse-Maja is a mostly fictitious Robin Hood type thief, the person existed but most of the stories are just lore. His real name was Lars Molin (1785-1845) and he was from Ramsberg in Västmanland. He made a series of theft tours through the country, and his trick to escape police was being dressed as a woman. He stole the church silver in Järfälla church, was captured and sentenced to life imprisonment at Karlsten's Fortress in Marstrand in 1813. During his prison stay, he wrote his autobiography Lasse-Majas besynnerliga äventyr (Lasse-Maja's bizarre adventure). His memoirs became very popular in 19th-century Sweden, and were also the basis of the many legends. After 22 years he was pardoned and lived the last ten year near his brother who was brewer and travelled the country telling stories about his life.

According to local lore, the cave was a hiding place for Lasse-Maja, the thief in women's clothes. The Swedish author Edvard Matz wrote two books about his life, but according to him, he was never active in this part of Sweden. He stayed mostly in the Mälardal area. So the name is actually based on pure fiction, nevertheless it is the name under which the cave is known today.

The cave is the result of tectonic movements. Huge blocks of crystalline rock were moved, most likely by the glaciers of the last ice age, and so there are now cave passages. The rocks were separated by cracks, which gave them very flat surfaces. As a result, the passages have typically a triangular shape, two flat rock faces leaning against each other, and a floor made from sediment, mostly sand blown into the cave.

The cave is not difficult to find, but there is neither a parking lot nor signs. There is an educational sign at the cave entrance through, and a guestbook inside. On the other hand, the cave is on OpenStreetMap and Google Maps, and various trails can be found of hiking portals.