Press release -
From the Norwegian mountains to Netflix: Why the World Can’t Get Enough of Norway’s Trolls
A troll fever is sweeping the world – and today, Troll 2 premieres, the sequel to Netflix’s most-watched non-English-language film of all time. What is it about Norway’s trolls that continues to captivate audiences everywhere?
The trolls that shaped Norway
Across Norway, every mountain, fjord and forest tells a story – shaping not just the land, but the way Norwegians see their world. According to Norwegian folklore, the trolls used to roam freely in the mountains and forests. The trolls ventured out only at night, for there was one thing they truly feared: the sunlight.
If they didn't hide in time, the first rays of the sunlight would turn them into stone. And Norwegian believe that this is why you can still see their faces and bodies carved into the mountain sides, cliffs and stones all around the country.
-> Visit the locations from Netflix' Troll movies
A climb to the Troll's Tongue (Trolltunga) gives you spectacular views, hovering 700 metres above Ringedalsvatnet lake (Photo: Trolltunga Adventures)
Stomping out of the forest, trolls have left a lasting mark on Norwegian folklore. Though few still believe in these mythical creatures, their stories are told to children again and again. Trolls remain a vital part of our cultural heritage — every Norwegian knows what they look like and how they belong to the country’s nature and traditions. Passed down through generations, these tales were more than stories; they were cautionary guides, warning children away from treacherous swamps, deep lakes, and dangerous shores.
But where did it all start?
The story of the trolls
"We don't know exactly when or where it started. However, you will find them in our narrative tradition, and you can find them in our first written sources, sagas, from the Middle Ages. We don't know how old they are in people's imaginations, but it's old", says Ane Ohrvik, professor of cultural history and museology at the University of Oslo.
With Norway's high mountains, deep fjords, large forests and dark winter nights, you can easily see a link to the supernatural. Whatever people don't understand, they need to explain in one way or another, and trolls were as good an explanation as any.
The Troll's Ladder (Trollstigen) is one of the most iconic scenic routes in Norway, cutting through some of Western Norway's most spectacular scenery (Photo: Haakon Lundkvist - Visitnorthwest.no)
"Trolls are more of a fantasy figure than anything else, but many held the notion that nature was inhabited by different types of creatures and that humans lived side by side with these creatures, which were more or less visible and more or less dangerous. Some are more imaginative and part of the fantasy, while others were more real and people maybe took some precautions against them."
Where trolls still live on
Today, Norway’s trolls are found not only in stories and films, but also in the landscapes that inspired them. From the Troll’s Tongue (Trolltunga) to the Troll Wall (Trollveggen), visitors can follow their stony footprints across the country’s dramatic scenery — places that feel just as otherworldly as the legends themselves.
Images included in this press release are free to use. Please credit according to file name.
Related links
Topics
Visit Norway is Norway's official tourism board.
Norway is the place to experience the magical northern lights and the midnight sun above the Arctic Circle or world-famous fjords surrounded by spectacular mountains and glaciers. In the midst of stunning scenery, travellers can enjoy local food and culture in vibrant cities like Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger and Tromsø.
For best advice on Norway, click on www.visitnorway.com.
Preliminary enquiries about professional assistance can be sent by filling out our media form in our Media Centre
All PR and press activities and enquiries are handled by our main office in Oslo.
