Dalahästen

The Dalecarlian Horse is one of Sweden’s unofficial national symbols. Many Swedish households have one of these wooden horses somewhere around the house. Most of these horses are tiny and fit on a bookshelf, however, this one is larger than life. 

The horse was unveiled on December 13, 1989 in the town of Avesta to draw tourists to the small region. The horse is composed of concrete and spans an impressive 43 feet (13 meters) and weighs 68 tons. The biggest in the world!

Interestingly enough, it worked. The horse was a very popular destination in Avesta. However, over time interest waned and people stopped visiting the horse. The various shops and stands around the horse started to disappear. Over time, the horse was nearly forgotten and sat in a parking lot along with two clothing stores and a cafe.

Unfortunately, the horse was not well maintained over time and begun to fade and crack. However, in 2019 the local municipality took over ownership and restored it to its former glory. The restored horse was unveiled in late 2019, exactly 30 years after its construction.