Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Saquon Barkley Plaque
Kirkkasik Bedesten inside
Kirkkasik Bedesten
Someshwar Temple
Someshwar Temple
Grilled cheese and tomato soup are soulmates.
The Palisades Restaurant
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The local catch is delicious fried as well.
Terry's of Charlevoix
Carlson’s Fishery is a Great Lakes institution.
Carlson’s Fishery
The Cathedral Café maintains the building’s original church exterior.
Cathedral Café
Exterior of the historic Dyffryn Arms pub.
Dyffryn Arms
Most of what’s on the menu here comes from Michigan.
The Glenwood
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Siegfried Tieber specializes in sleight-of-hand magic using small objects, as well as mentalism, which gives the illusion of reading minds.
Does a Magician Really Never Reveal Their Tricks? AO Wants to Know.
11 days ago
Decoy’s wines reflect the terroir of California.
How a Wooden Duck Migrated From the California Wetlands to a Wine Label
14 days ago
There’s more to the French capital than the Eiffel Tower.
Dear Atlas: What Are Some Non-Touristy Things to Do in Paris?
17 days ago
The plants around Liz Dauncey in this photo are not poisonous, but many common garden and houseplants are.
Are Some of Your Favorite Houseplants Poisonous? AO Wants to Know.
24 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Sweden Pilane Skulptur i Pilane
AO Edited

Skulptur i Pilane

This Swedish sculpture park is a unique combination of ancient ruins and modern art.

Pilane, Sweden

Added By
Johan Sörensson
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Skulptur i Pilane   Bengt Oberger
Skulptur i Pilane   Bengt Oberger
“Anna.”   johansorensson02 / Atlas Obscura User
Sculpture ‚Around and Around‘ by Hans Gothlin   dorobuettgen / Atlas Obscura User
Sculpture ‚Endless‘ by Kent Karlsson   dorobuettgen / Atlas Obscura User
  Scalap / Atlas Obscura User
Remains from the Iron Age   Carl-Magnus Helgegren
View from the heathlands to “Anna”   johansorensson02 / Atlas Obscura User
The heathland in the park   Andrea Grave-Müller
  Scalap / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Situated on the Swedish west coast, Tjörn is the country's 7th-largest island. Like the rest of Bohuslän during the summer, the island hosts tourists from around Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Germany. However, what many visitors don't know is that a little further inland in Pilane resides a very unique sculpture park.

The park features a beautiful heath with undulating terrain. Around the park are around 90 different historical sites from the Iron Age such as stone circles, burial mounds, and cairns.

Since 2007, this historical area has also been a sculpture park. Each summer, the park hosts many sculptures made by different sculptors from around the globe. These are spread across the park, from fields to hills, and sometimes even next to the ruins.

The most famous among them is "Anna." The sculpture was first displayed in 2016 and is the only sculpture that is permanent. It was crafted by the Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa and was intended to be temporary. However, the local population decided "Anna" was the perfect symbol for the island. 

"Anna" stands on the highest point of the park with an extraordinary view over large parts of the island. It's shaped like a large head with closed eyes and can be seen from far away. 

Related Tags

Sculptures Parks Outsider Art Art

Community Contributors

Added By

johansorensson02

Edited By

dorobuettgen, Scalap

  • dorobuettgen
  • Scalap

Published

January 11, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Skulptur i Pilane
Pilane, 471 92
Sweden
58.030243, 11.551447

Nearby Places

Ragnhildsholmen Castle Ruin

Gothenburg, Sweden

miles away

Aeroseum

Säve, Sweden

miles away

Tumlehed Rock Paintings

Torslanda, Sweden

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Sweden

Sweden

Europe

Places 381
Stories 42

Nearby Places

Ragnhildsholmen Castle Ruin

Gothenburg, Sweden

miles away

Aeroseum

Säve, Sweden

miles away

Tumlehed Rock Paintings

Torslanda, Sweden

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Sweden

Sweden

Europe

Places 381
Stories 42

Related Places

  • PlayGarden Park

    Fulton, Mississippi

    PlayGarden Park Sculptures

    Whimsical bronze sculptures of smiling coins and houses await visitors to this park.

  • “Chop Stick” (2012) by visiondivision.

    Indianapolis, Indiana

    The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park

    This whimsical park encourages its visitors and wildlife to roam on and around the various works of art.

  • Pasaquan folk art totems.

    Atlanta, Georgia

    Folk Art Park

    A psychedelic tribute to one of Georgia's most unique artistic visionaries, out of place and time in the heart of Atlanta.

  • Neruda’s Gate by Mark di Suervo

    New Windsor, New York

    Storm King Art Center

    100 massive sculptures in the Hudson River Valley.

  • In Mirror Labyrinth, Jeppe Hein creates a circular maze of reflective panels.

    New Orleans, Louisiana

    The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden

    This free sculpture garden is home to over 90 artworks and installations from artists around the world.

  • Gene Frankel Theater

    New York, New York

    'Dreams of Hyperion'

    A unique collection of figures perform down the facade of the Gene Frankel Theatre.

  • Vancouver, British Columbia

    Two Spirits Carving

    A mysterious sculpture is hidden in Vancouver's Stanley Park.

  • Knislinge, Sweden

    'Fideicommissum'

    A bronze, peeing self-portrait protests unequal inheritance rights.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.