Welcome to Troll Park

Wood sculptor Sixten Öhman has created around 30 imaginative wooden sculptures with a troll theme. The sculptures are placed in five groups along the Friendship Path in the terrain around Villa Mechelin. We invite you to take a peaceful walk in the footsteps of trolls. Each of the five groups of sculptures tells about a specific period or phase in the trolls' lives.

Group 1

Here we see three small, terrified trolls trying to hide: Mille, Nille, and Ville made their entrance. Why were the trolls brought to Bromarv? Our story about the trolls is based on old notes and anecdotes, and it begins in the second half of the 19th century. Everything seems to have started with an emotional quarrel between two neighbors in Korsuddarna, in the northeastern corner of Bromarv. In the most traditional story, the two feuding neighbors are called Stortorparn and Lilltorparn. Stortorparn, who was apparently a hot-tempered person, felt both insulted and humiliated. There are different versions of what exactly happened, but Stortorparn was determined to get revenge on Lilltorparn. And he meant it! In the fall of 1867, Stortorparn went to Helsinki by horse. He was going to buy three trolls. It turned out that his money was only enough for one troll, so he had to rent the other two. Stortorparn's plan was to use the trolls to exact revenge on Lilltorparn and his family in every possible way. Revenge is sweet, as they say! When the trolls were brought to Bromarv, they turned out to be small "creatures" who were both terrified and shy. Everything indicates that the trolls had not come of their own free will but had been forced. Externally, they resembled humans in many ways but had some differences, such as the shape of their skulls and the size of their nasal bones. But perhaps the most astonishing of all: they had tails! It was said that these newly arrived creatures originally came from Estonia. When they arrived in Bromarv, they spoke Swedish. They were named Mille, Nille, and Ville. In some stories, there are only two trolls, and in one story, the trolls are called Nix and Nax. There have always been different opinions about the number of trolls and their names. We believe there were three trolls and that they were named Mille, Nille, and Ville. Initially, they lived for a short time in Stortorparn's barn but soon moved in with Lilltorparn. The mission could begin!

Group 2

The trolls in their heyday. They had grown a bit. Now they radiate malice and evil, evoking both disgust and unease. Ville returns to Helsinki. The trolls take their mission seriously. Lilltorparn's family soon noticed that they had unwelcome guests. Initially, the trolls were withdrawn and cautious, but over time they became bolder and more brazen. It soon became apparent that the trolls took their mission very seriously. They harassed Lilltorparn's family, both children and adults, with various mischiefs and vandalism. Sometimes the pranks were relatively harmless, but often it was pure psychological terror. The trolls were both inventive and shameless. Sometimes it involved mischief with pets, sometimes disgusting things, poor hygiene, or food abuse. Lilltorparn's family was driven to madness by the unwelcome tormentors. They were at a loss and didn't know how to get rid of the parasitic intruders. The family tried to drive the trolls away with superstition, with God's holy word, and as a last resort, they tried to kill the three marauders. But nothing worked. The trolls remained, and the reprisals continued. Soon, the villagers also began to react to the trolls' antics. They started to avoid contact with Lilltorparn's family, and especially the children were left alone and no longer allowed to play with the other children in the village. The situation eventually became untenable for Lilltorparn. The family had to give up the fight against the trolls and decided to move away. The trolls had successfully completed their mission. Stortorparn could feel satisfied. He had gotten his revenge. According to the story, Lilltorparn moved to Trollshovda in Tenala. But when Stortorparn - after the mission was completed - was to return the three trolls to the seller in Helsinki, it turned out that he only accepted Ville, while Mille and Nille had to return to Bromarv. Now the two trolls instead moved in with Stortorparn's family, who unexpectedly got a taste of their own bitter medicine. Mille and Nille continued their harassment - now at Stortorparn's. The wisdom that says those who dig a pit for others fall into it themselves proved true once again. It was during this period, from 1867 to 1888, that the trolls left their deepest footprints in the villagers' consciousness. The image of the trolls as evil, perhaps even malicious and disgusting creatures, was created. This stereotypical image of the trolls was loaded with derogatory and slanderous prejudices that have stubbornly persisted to this day.

Group 3

The trolls move to the deep forests and break contact with the outside world. They form families and have children. Nature becomes their most important teacher, and Ville returns to Bromarv. The trolls take control of their own lives. When Stortorparn died in 1888, the trolls moved from Korsuddarna to Kalvdal in Orvlax, where Stortorparn's daughter lived. Soon, the journey continued to Skönvik on the border of Padva and from there to Vättlaxviken. Gradually, the trolls adapted to a quieter life with less mischief. In the early 1920s, Stortorparn's daughter died, and the trolls suddenly became homeless. Everything indicates that they settled in the deep forests and simultaneously broke all contact with the villagers. There are only a few notes from the time that followed. The villagers soon forgot about the trolls, and many thought they had moved away from Bromarv. Others believed they had died a natural death or that the villagers had quietly managed to kill them and that the trolls' saga was over. But today, we know the truth. During the following time, the trolls engaged in self-reflection - they began to reflect on what they had been through and why they had behaved the way they did. They processed their traumatic experiences and tried to understand the underlying causes. They realized they could not continue in the same old footsteps. They began to build a dream of a completely different life with completely different values. There are at least three different interpretations of the trolls' background and behavior. Firstly, a respected professor at Åbo Akademi claimed that the story of the trolls was about pure and simple slavery. Stortorparn had paid to get the trolls to exact revenge on Lilltorparn and his family - a typical example of the human trafficking of that time. Secondly, there is a theory proposed by another serious scientist, who speculates that the trolls might have been representatives of a human species we thought was extinct - the Neanderthals. We tend to see Neanderthals as both unintelligent and animalistic. Perhaps more fascinating fantasy than fact? The trolls themselves had their own opinion. They claimed they were people just like us, but that they had been brainwashed by the Black Book. A Bromarv resident has detailed stories about the Black Book, which was a membership book for a sect. The sect influenced the members' way of thinking and acting. According to the storyteller, it was almost impossible to free oneself from the sect. Thus, the trolls were not mythical creatures or nature spirits. But even science has not been able to provide a clear answer to the question of whether they were trolls or humans or perhaps some form of crossbreed. During this period, Ville rejoined the trolls. He had traveled around and gathered his own life experiences and seen the world beyond Bromarv. Mille and Nille now started families and had children and grandchildren.

Group 4

Two representatives of a new generation of trolls seek contact with the villagers. Welcome to have a chat on the bench! Check out the view over the bay or look up at the pine crowns. The trolls' return Now the story takes a different character. The old notes and persistent anecdotes contain no information about this phase in the trolls' lives. Here, imagination and a positive view of trolls take the lead. Timewise, we now move to the present or at least to our recent history. The trolls spent much time thinking about how to free themselves from the stereotypical image of trolls and be tolerated by the villagers. But at the beginning of the 2000s, something surprising and remarkable happened. We know that the troll families - yes, now it was actually a matter of families - lived deep in the forests somewhere in Bromarv without contact with the villagers. The troll children did not go to school and preferred to sleep during the day. Their favorite pastime was littering and emptying trash cans. One day, a lone troll was captured in the schoolyard in the village just as it was about to empty a trash can. A student managed to catch the troll and then had the brilliant idea to teach the trolls how to take care of nature and handle garbage. At the same time, the trolls could learn to read, write, and do arithmetic. Said and done, the troll children sat at school desks together with the other students. In other words, the village school and its students showed great open-mindedness and genuine interest in these alien and different beings. Through the school's dedicated and respectful efforts, the trolls gradually found their place in the social community and were finally able to free themselves from the sect and the Black Book. The once-dirty and ignorant trolls were given a completely new life and a new identity with completely different values. This is the wonderful story of the school's efforts in the 21st century. Since then, the trolls have become a natural part of the community in Bromarv. They have reappeared in the public eye and have shown a willingness to help with various tasks in the village. The village's children and youth have eagerly integrated the trolls into their world and shown great acceptance and curiosity about the trolls' way of life. For the older generation, it has been a bit more difficult. Their prejudices and preconceived notions are deeply rooted and cannot be washed away with hot water. They still feel that trolls are dirty and unhygienic creatures. But the trolls are trying to help everyone, even the elderly, to understand their history and background. They believe that knowledge and understanding can help them break down the negative prejudices.

Group 5

These are the trolls today. Curious and friendly. Open to new friends and with the desire to live in harmony with nature. Time changes. Today's trolls For today's trolls, the new way of life has led to a positive attitude towards the future. They strive to become even better integrated into the community and share their knowledge about nature and how to take care of it. Their once-dirty appearance has given way to a cleaner and more hygienic way of life, and their old, mischievous behaviors are long gone. The trolls now work together with the villagers to create a sustainable and harmonious environment in Bromarv. They have become an essential part of the community, and their presence is valued by all. This is the story of the trolls in Bromarv - a tale of transformation, acceptance, and community. We hope you enjoyed your walk in Troll Park and learned something new about the trolls' journey from feared creatures to beloved members of our community.