Villa Villekulla

Tucked away in Gotland, Sweden is the colorfully painted home of a beloved fictional character, Pippi Longstocking. 

Created by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren, Pippi Longstocking was the star of a series of children's books Lindgren authored back in the 1940s. The red-haired, freckled Pippi was inspired by Lindgren's own daughter, Pippi, who is said to have asked her mom for a get-well story that served as the basis for the forthcoming series. 

Much like Peter Pan, Pippi is a spunky girl who is averse to growing up, choosing instead to live in a yellow and pink-hued home with her pet horse and monkey.

Fans of the Swedish series can step into Pippi's fantasy by visiting the Villa Villekulla Museum in Gotland. Villa Villekulla is the original house that was used for the filming of the 'modern' Pippi Longstocking movies. The house was built in 1902 as an officers' residence and was later bought and renovated for the Pippi TV series that aired in 1969.

Later, the house was bought and moved to its current location in Kneippbyn where it was used as an exterior set for the movies 'Pippi and the Seven Seas' and 'Pippi on the Run'. In 2001-2002, the villa was renovated with the intention of turning the home into a museum to honor the Pippi Longstocking legacy.