Information
The smithy with its impressive hammer and power station are built
a hundred years apart – 1799 and 1899. They both got power
from the water which flows nearby. Nice walking path around the
area.
Söderåsen
N 60° 29,811' E 16° 25,729'
Address:
Stjärnsundsvägen,
813 96 Torsåker
Phone:
+46(0)290-40155
Opening times:
Always accessible
Information
Walking paths on the ridge Söderåsen, where remains from
coaling and iron ore mining are visible. From the top of the ridge,
253 meters above sea level, there is a stunning view over Gästrikland.
Strömsdal
N 60° 01,064' E 14° 37,276'
Address:
From road 245 by Fredriksberg/Säfsen drive south
to Gravendal and continue ca 10 km to Strömsdal.
Phone:
The Restaurant Hyttsjöboa +46(0)591-410 23. Ludvika
Tourism +46 (0)240-860 50
Opening times: Wed 15 Jul, 11am-5pm
The Strömsdal day
- Market, smithy, coffee and cakes
Information
The village grew around the blast furnace from 1727, built near
woods and coal. Pig iron was made from iron ore from Grängesberg.
The village was part of Säfsen works. The cabin used by the
workers who were hired on a daily basis is today a summer café. Walking and biking path to Gravendal.
Stollbergs
gruva Stollberg mine
N 60° 11,045’ E 15° 16,815’
Address: Turn off towards Gubbo from 66.
In Silfhyttan village turn left.
Opening times: The site always available. July guided tours, only prebooked
groups, min 5 pers.
Wed 13 juli Tour with The Västerbergslagen
Geolologic Association, www.vbgf.se. Meeting point Ludvika
Gammelgård at 6pm.
Information
Silver was originally, during the Middle Ages, mined in Stollberg,
also home to a State demesne. Later, iron, zinc and lead were extracted.
This is one of the most mineral rich places in the country. The view goes on for miles.
Skattlösberg
&Luossastugan
N 60° 10,693' E 14° 45,091'
Address: 2 km from road 245 between Ludvika and
Fredriksberg.
Telefon: Ludvika Tourism +46 (0)240-860 50
Opening times: Luossa 1 Jun-31 Aug
daily 11am-5pm. Entrance 50 SEK.
2 July 3pm Activities & traditional food at the Old Finnish farm. 13 July 7pm music at Luossa cottage. 31 jul 5pm evening by the
log cabin, Skattlösberg. 7 aug, 1pm, the Luossa festival.
Information
Poet Dan Andersson was born in Skattlösberg, ”the capital”
of the area to which the Finns came to work, known as ”finnmarken”.
For a period Andersson lived in the cottage Luossastugan where he
wrote about the lives of the charcoal-burners. A beautiful walking
path leads to the cottage, where a singing guide awaits!
From road 50 north of Ludvika towards
Borlänge, turn right to Gubbo. After ca 4-5 km you'll see the
Schisshyttan mansion and soon a sign and the start of the walking-path.
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Explore 300 years in four kilometers, from the ruins of the first
iron works, through the history of metallurgy, to the last works,
closed in 1922. Schisshyttan manor used to be a centre for iron
research.
Semlaområdet The Semla region
N 60° 00,977’ E 15° 45,743’
Address:
From road 68 north of Fagersta, turn towards
Vad. The Semla region is located after approx 500 m to the left.
Information
Despite centuries of iron industry, Semla is today dominated by
water and greenery. The old works was demolished when the lock was
built. A forge ruin from the 17th century, the lock keeper’s
home and a power house is all that remains today. Beautiful walking
paths in the area.
Röda
Jorden – the red soil
N 59° 46,805’ E 15° 31,085’
Address:
Turn off from road no 68 towards Örebro, south
of Riddarhyttan.
Information
Already in the century 800 BC – that’s 2,800 years ago – iron was made from the ferruginous red soil here. Today the process is repeated on “red soil day”, held on the first Sunday of August each year. A family day is held in June. Pretty walking paths.
Oslättfors
bruk Oslättfors works
N 60° 46,120' E 16° 57,963'
Address:
Oslättforsvägen 245, 805 98 Gävle
Opening times:
Activities during summer, Works always accessible.
Information
Beautifully situated mining environment by still forest lakes and
the cascading water of Testeboån. Church from 1796. Summer
café.
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Animal life, nature and culture around the national park of Färnebofjärden
can be studied in the information centre which is housed in the
old works buildings. Perfectly located near the waterfalls Gysingeforsarna.
Mårtens
& Kullens kyrkstigar Mårtens & Kullens church paths
N 60° 17,024' E 14° 56,105'
Address:
The path starts in Norrbo, north of Grangärde
on the other side of the lake Bysjön
Information
In the old days the paths were used during the summer months by
locals on their way to church and their jobs at the iron works.
Today the paths are marked and used for long-distance walks and
the bicycle race ”Kyrkloppet”.
Lekombergs
gruva Lekomberg Mine
N 60° 12,072’ E 15° 08,276’
Address:
The mine is located along the road 245/247
ca 5 km north of Ludvika. Narrow road to the top of the hill.
Telefon:
Ludvika Tourism +46 (0)240-860 50
Opening times:
Always accessible.
Information
Mining, with ropeways, mud and ore refining works, power station
and housing, is all in the past. Today the nature and the view over
lake Väsman from the top of the hill Lekomberget are the main
attractions.
STF - Kolarbyn Kolarbyn Hostel
N 59° 48,458' E 15° 43,687'
Address:
Fiskelevägen 1,
739 92 Skinnskatteberg.
By road no 233 just south of Skinnskatteberg.
Information
A STF-hostel. Sweden’s most
primitive hostel! Twelve charcoal
-burner huts with wood fired heaters
and sheepskin topped bunks. Game scouting. Elk safari. Wolf hikes.
Klackbergs
gruvfält Klackberg Mining Field
N 60° 04,624’ E 15° 53,682’
Address:
Klackberg,
738 91 Norberg
Telefon:
Norberg Tourism +46 (0)223-291 30
Opening times:
Always accessible. Walking paths and the Blå
Grottan pit. Well sign posted.
Information
An iron ore and limestone mining field from the early 14th century.
Traces of old-day fire-settings as well as more modern dynamite
explosions are visible in the open-cast mines and galleries. The
area became a nature reserve in 2008.
Gravendal
N 60° 02,579' E 14° 30,883'
Address:
The village is located ca 15 km south of Fredriksberg/Säfsen
from road 245.
Phone:
Ludvika Tourism +46 (0)240-860 50
Opening times: Sat 2 Jul, 11am-5pm, the Hammer Day, Wed 13 Jul, 11am-4pm, The Gravendal Day. Wed 20 Jul, 27 Jul,
3 Aug, 10 Aug, 1-4pm, guided tour in the hammer forge, smithy and bakery.
Information
Gravendal works was founded in 1720. The hammer forge and rolling
mill would get their pig iron from Strömsdal. Today, the forge
has been reconstructed to show German forging. Walking paths around the villagage, walking and biking path to Strömsdal.
Flogbergets
gruvor Flogberget Mines
N 60° 8,846' E 15° 18,199'
Address: From Smedjebacken rd 66 towards Ludvika.
Sign posted.
Phone: Gruvstugan 0240-284 44
MiGa 070-610 99 59
Opening times: 25 Jun-14 Aug daily12-5pm. Guided tours daily at 1pm Tue, Thu and Sat also at 3pm. Tours for children every Mon 11am. English tours 3, 17, 31 Jul
and 14 Aug at 3 pm. Tue 26 Jul 6-8pm
Songs från Bergslagen with singer Bertil Olsson. Sat 13 Aug 1-4pm, a Family day.
Information
The mine, with several pits and an underground gallery, is open
to visitors and offers guided tours, including ones for children,
starting at Gruvstugan. Old fashioned café open during
summer.
Finngården
Rikkenstorp
N 60° 05,727’ E 14° 48,839’
Address: North west of Grängesberg. Go towards Fjällberget
och Örtjärn, then follow signs.
Phone: Book guided tours & walks through Nils
Holmdal, 0240-66 23 51.
Opening times: Available all year around.
The Finnish museum: 5 Jun-7 Aug, Sun 11am-2pm. Tue 2 aug: the Rikkenstorp day in the Dan Andersson week. Finnish Market 10am-5pm 10am guided walking tour, 2pm Music with Lucas Stark, 3pm Göran Greider, poet and author, 4pm Music - Lucas Stark.
Information
A farm with roots in the 17th century, small museum showing
what life in the area used to be like. There is also a Finnish smokehouse
and a culture path around the estate with reminders of the Finns
that came here to work. The farm is privately owned. A cabin by
the lake is available for rent.
Bränntjärnstorpet
N 60° 06,260’ E 14° 51,189’
Address:
From Björnhyttan close to Grängesberg drive
to and pass Ljungåsen and before Kestina turn to the left
to Bränntjärn. Ca 200 m walkingpath to the cottage from
the parkingplace.
Information
Walk through the woods to the smokehouse, which was later reconstructed
and fitted with windows and chimney. It became the home of five
children and a widow; the grandmother of the poet Dan Andersson,
who spent a lot of time here. A guided tour of the cottage can be
arranged (0240-66 23 51).
Bastnäs
gruvfält Bastnäs Mining Field
N 59° 50,751' E 15° 35,321'
Address:
From road 68 from Fagersta, turn left
before Riddarhyttan towards the Bäckegruvan and Skinnskatteberg.
Very soon turn left onto a small sandy road, follow it ca 800 m.
Simple signs.
Information
In the middle of this wooded area is one of the most mineral rich
places in the world, attracting many collectors and researchers.
A winding gear can still be found in its original place.
Fornvigrafältet Fornvi grave field
N 60° 53,631' E 16° 41,893'
Address:
Åmotsvägen 9,
816 30 Ockelbo
Opening times:
Always accessible
Information
Today it is peaceful and idyllic by lake Bysjön, but the grave
field reveals that there used to be hustle and bustle here. Over
1200 years ago, this was a central place for gatherings and home
to the local ruler.
Skommarhyttan
N 60° 25,200' E 16° 30,978'
Address:
Skomarhyttsvägen,
813 95 Torsåker
Telefon:
+46(0)290-400 80,
280 02
Opening times:
All year round; always accessible
Information
One of the most beautiful old works in Gästrikland with a furnace
ruin and other remains. The original works was built in the 1540's.
Valls kalkbrott Vall's limestone quarry
N 60° 29,265' E 16° 25,998'
Address:
Kalkbrottsvägen,
813 96 Torsåker
Opening times:
All year round; always accessible
Information
Limestone quarry from the 18th century, which was mined until the
middle of the 20th century. Today the 500 meter long, 20-30 meter
wide and 25-30 meter deep open cast mine is filled with water.
