Gibberyd: the real Katthult

Anyone who loved the stories of Michel of Lönneberga as a child knows Katthult as well as their own home: the farm with the red barn, the shed Michel was banished to after every prank, and the workshop where he carved his little wooden men. None of this is a make-believe place — the 1970s films were shot on a real, still-inhabited farm: in Gibberyd, a tiny hamlet near Vimmerby, right in the forested heart of Småland.

The farm has belonged to the same family for generations and remains an active working farm today — no museum, no open-air park. That's exactly what makes a visit so special: walking between the buildings feels like stepping straight into the film scenes, with real sunlight on real wood instead of a rebuilt set.

What to expect on site

Visitors can move freely between the farm's outbuildings — the family's house and garden remain private, as befits a working, inhabited farm. In the main season, a small farm shop usually opens with coffee, ice cream and the odd souvenir; outside the season the site can still be visited, just without refreshments. As opening times shift slightly from year to year, it's worth a quick check with the Vimmerby tourist office shortly before you travel.

A small detail for film fans: the exterior scenes really were shot in Gibberyd, while most of the interior scenes were filmed nearby in Mariannelund — so Katthult's kitchen and parlour actually existed as a set in a completely different place. It makes no difference to the visit itself, but it's a nice anecdote to share.

The ideal holiday day from Ullevi

Gibberyd is less than an hour's drive from Ullevi — roughly 50 kilometres, a good 45 minutes past Vimmerby towards Rumskulla. Starting in the morning leaves a whole day for a relaxed combination: first out to the farm, strolling across the farmyard and letting the children recognise the settings — then the way back via Vimmerby, where the trip combines beautifully with an afternoon at Astrid Lindgren's World (more on that in Astrid Lindgren's World: The Great Family Day Out from Ullevi). Those who prefer a quieter pace can instead pack a picnic and let the day wind down right at the farm before heading back to Totebo.

  • Location: Katthult farm, Gibberyd, Vimmerby municipality
  • Distance from Ullevi: approx. 50 km / a good 45 minutes by car
  • Access: outbuildings freely accessible, house and garden private
  • Refreshments: farm shop with coffee, ice cream and souvenirs in the main season
  • Combine with: Astrid Lindgren's World and Vimmerby's old town