The Headless Horseman in Gothenburg

Read this in — Svenska

You have made two new acquaintances in an online ghost hunter forum. They have found an old journal and are trying to solve the mysterious disappearance of its owner. Teacher Ichabod Crane’s two-hundred-year-old notes contain descriptions of a headless horseman and what seems to be a curse plaguing Gothenburg. Maybe the journal offers the clues needed to find out what happened to Ichabod?

You are invited to join an investigation, which starts close to the central station. Your new friends have mapped out the locations of relevance in Ichabod’s life, and you plan to follow all the leads the journal provides. But, one of the people you were supposed to meet never shows up at the agreed location…

Go on a ghost tour and solve a mystery

Walk in Ichabod Crane’s footsteps through central Gothenburg. Participate in the story in each location through gamification. Control conversations between characters, examine mysterious items and crack secret codes while you explore the city’s historical surroundings. Your companion will tell you everything he knows about the journal and the headless horseman as you walk.

Will you be able to reveal why Ichabod disappeared, and find your friend?

The StoryTourist app will show you the way

To walk this tour, you’ll download the user-friendly StoryTourist app. The app is equipped with a map, GPS, a narrator and digital guide which makes sure you walk in the right direction. Once you have purchased the tour it is yours to keep. You can use it at any time and as many times as you wish.

Through the StoryTourist-app, you’ll hear the story of how the headless horseman haunted Gothenburg. The only thing you need to be able to explore the city in a brand-new way is a smartphone with headphones.

This self-guided city exploration game is an adaptation of Washington Irving’s short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. You will find practical information about the tour under the “instructions” tab.

Read this in — Svenska

How this tour works:

Your smartphone is your guide on this tour! Once you have purchased a tour, this is what you do:

Download the StoryTourist app from Apple App Store or Google Play, while connected to Wi-Fi.
Log into the app using the same email address you filled in when purchasing the tour. You will create your password the first time you log into the app. The tour you have purchased will be ready to download in the tour library once you have logged in. Make sure you are still connected to Wi-Fi while downloading the tour.
Go to the starting point of the tour, open the app, put your headphones on and head out on your StoryTour adventure!

Important information:

This is a location based experience. You have to be at the tour starting point at Drottningtorget square in Gothenburg, Sweden, to start this walking tour.
Once the tour is downloaded to your phone, you can use it offline.
There is a map, GPS and a digital guide in the app, making sure that you’ll walk the right way.
This tour is available in English and Swedish.
Once you have purchased the tour, it is your to keep. You can use it whenever you want and as many times as you would like. You can start, pause and end the tour whenever you would like.
This tour is pet friendly – feel free to bring your dog on this walk!
Public transport is available close to both the tour start point and end point.
This tour is not accessible with a wheelchair, due to a narrow passage and uneven terrain.
We recommend for participants to be 15 years old or over, due to the dark theme of the tour.

What to bring:

Your smartphone, with the StoryTourist app and the tour you purchased already downloaded.
Headphones, for the best possible listening experience
Make sure that your smartphone battery is fully charged. If you know that your phone has poor battery capacity, it can be a good idea to bring a powerbank as well.

Hotel Eggers

You are standing outside Hotel Eggers, which has been here since the late 1800’s. Suite nr 397 is said to be haunted by Mrs Ebba Eggers, the wife of the first hotel owner.

Ichabod's home

This is the only address in Gothenburg with half a street number, due to a mistake when the property was registered. One of the flats here was restored by the Gothenburg history museum.

Ichabod's school

This building has gradually changed its appearance since it was first constructed, from a classical style, to more modern and sleek. Today, you can find the Gothenburg visitor centre here.

Gothenburg Cathedral

There has been a church in this location at least since the 1600’s. The current cathedral was inaugurated in 1815, after a fire completely destroyed the previous one in 1802.

Magasinsgatan

There was a tavern called “The Stockholm cellar” here in the 1700’s. When a fire ravished this area in 1804, the building burned down and was replaced with a stone building instead.

The Crown house

Kronhuset (The Crown house) is believed to be Gothenburg’s oldest secular building. It was built in the 1650’s to store cannons, uniforms, vehicles and military equipment.

The Wihjkanderska house

Wholesale merchant C. O. Wihjkander had this house built in the 1800’s. Architect Frans Heilborn was a proponent of building with stone, considering it could prevent fires from spreading.

The Crown house barracks

Kronhusbodarna (the Crown house barracks) were built in the 1750’s, and used by saddle makers and weapon blacksmiths.Today, you can find artisan workshops, a café, and shops here.

The German church

The German church you see here today is the third German church built in this location, as the previous ones were destroyed by city fires. This church was built in the late 1700’s.

By the canal

The canals of Gothenburg were constructed due to the city’s location on low lying land along the water. Dutch canals were used as a blueprint for how to drain and lead the water away.

The lion stairs

Lejontrappan (The lion stairs) were adorned with these two lion statues in 1991. However, the very first lions were placed here in 1638, as a reminder of the Gothenburg city coat of arms.

Locations you'll visit on this tour:

The canal walk across from the botanical gardens
The Vallgatan and Kungsgatan shopping streets
The Gothenburg cathedral
Kronhusbodarna market area
The German church
Gustaf Adolf's square and city hall

Explore Gothenburg with a city exploration game based on a classic short story