Lars Vilks declares a micronation over two sculptures in Sweden

The journey began in 1980 when Lars Vilks started building two monumental pieces within the Kullaberg nature reserve in Skåne. One structure was a 75-tonne driftwood creation titled Nimis. The other was a stone fortress called Arx. Because the location was so remote, the local council failed to notice the projects for 2 years. Upon their eventual discovery, the authorities labeled the sculptures as illegal buildings and ordered their immediate removal.

Despite his efforts, Vilks lost his repeated legal appeals to the Swedish government. During this period of litigation, the ownership of Nimis changed hands. Joseph Beuys purchased the piece in 1984, and it eventually passed to Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Seeking to push the boundaries of protest, Vilks declared the surrounding land a sovereign micronation named Ladonia on 2 June 1996.

Ladonia's government is jointly led by a queen and a president, with cabinet ministers serving as the legislative body who vote on proposals via the Internet. Although the land remains inside the Swedish nature reserve, Ladonia has opened citizenship applications and even announced a state of war with Sweden. The Ladonian language is composed of only two words - waaaalll and ÿp.

At present, the structure is no longer being maintained by its creator and is in a state of deterioration. Access the area at your own risk.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons