Thoreau's Cabin

Nordskoven

Thoreau’s cabin is a reinterpretation of the self-built cabin that served as the focal point of Henry David Thoreau’s literary classic *Walden*
Thoreau spent two years here in 1845, living a contemplative life in the woods, some distance from his hometown of Concord. Here, he was temporarily removed from civilized city life. And here, he was able to gain the insight into the fundamentals of life that he believed only nature and its unspoiled world could provide. He did not imagine that everyone should move out into the woods to gain that insight. But he believed that contact with nature could also create space for reflections on life in the city. Thoreau’s goal with his stay was therefore not to live as a hermit, but rather to conduct a temporary social experiment that could bring him closer to a truth about the world in which he lived.

Today, only the foundation of Thoreau’s original cabin remains. At Deep Forest Art Land, a reinterpretation of Thoreau’s cabin has been erected. Physically, the cabin replicates the original cabin’s dimensions of 3 x 4.5 meters. Visitors thus gain a sense of the “framework” of Thoreau’s stay in the forest. But in this version, the cabin takes on a look that is both simple and magical, echoing the other elements of Deep Forest Art Land. Thoreau’s cabin is intended as a space for relaxation and contemplation for both children and adults.