The Great Pit (Stora Stöten) is the most striking feature of the landscape in the World Heritage Site Mining Area of the Great Copper Mountain in Falun. Its history stretches far back: the cultural landscape illustrates copper production in the Dalarna region of central Sweden since at least the 9th century. But Falun can be explored through more than just its mining heritage. The World Heritage Site also includes the planned 17th-century town of Falun, with its historic buildings, as well as industrial and domestic remains from several settlements.

Mining history in town and landscape

The different parts of the World Heritage Site give Falun a distinctive historical setting: mining, urban development and traces of several settlements stand side by side here. You can discover the history underground on guided tours of mining areas whose origins date back to the 17th century. Falu Gruva offers these tours year-round; availability may change, so it is advisable to check the latest information before your visit.

The interactive Gruvmuseet at Falu Gruva presents the mine’s history from the Viking Age to 2001. The museum and underground tour offer different ways to explore the same subject: the museum spans a long historical period, while the guided tour takes you into the mining areas. Museum access may also change, so check the latest visitor information.

Falu Gruva is centrally located in Falun, about a ten-minute walk from the town centre. For a broader view of the region, visit Dalarnas museum in the centre. It presents the history, traditions and culture of Dalarna as a whole; its extensive collection includes Dala horses. This adds a regional cultural context to Falun’s mining history.

Walking trails on different scales

Vattnets väg till gruvan is a trail system totalling just over 30 kilometres, with shorter and longer circular routes. Along the way are medieval smelting sites, miners’ farms, dams and dam houses set in characteristic Nordic nature. This landscape is an important part of the Falun World Heritage Site. The different circular routes offer a range of distances; check current trail conditions before setting out, as they may change.

The Carl Larsson Trail covers a different distance: it is about ten kilometres long and runs between Lilla Hyttnäs in Sundborn and Falun. Unlike the Vattnets väg till gruvan trail system, which totals just over 30 kilometres, this distance refers to a route between two named places. If you would like to combine art and landscape, you can take a guided tour of the artist’s home, Lilla Hyttnäs, at Carl Larsson-gården. Opening details may change; check the latest visitor information in advance.

Nature is also one of the things to discover at Lugnet: the area is one of Falun’s 13 municipal nature reserves. The adjoining nature reserve has walking trails, cycle paths and training routes, as well as barbecue areas, shelters and rest areas. This offers several ways to get active and different places to take a break, without having to commit to just one activity.

Art, crafts and local traditions

You can visit the exhibition at Konsthallen Kvarnen near Carl Larsson-gården independently, without taking a guided tour of the artist’s home. As access to the exhibition may change, it is best to check the latest information before your visit. For a hands-on craft experience, you can try throwing pottery on a wheel under instruction at Kulturhuset tio14. Workshop offerings and arrangements may also change; check the latest options in advance. Iron-forging courses at Smedja Metallmorfos are held on request, and availability may change.

The Christmas market at Falu Gruva is part of Falun’s seasonal character and has become a tradition for many people. The market includes a food market featuring local delicacies. Vendors and products vary from year to year, and dates and times also change. If you are planning to visit the market, check the details for the relevant year. Another way to combine nature and good food is the guided event En smakfull vandring i världsarvsskogen, which includes traditional forest coffee brewed over an open fire. As this is a bookable event and its availability and content may vary, it is a good idea to check the latest information in advance.

Getting to the starting point

Falun Central Station is in the town centre. The Falu Gruva starting point for the Vattnets väg trail is accessible by public transport. Train connections, bus routes and timetables may change; check current services before travelling and plan your trip around the visits or trails that interest you.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Enviken, Falun, Svärdsjö, Bjursås, Linghed, Sundborn, Sågmyra, Rättvik.

Back to the main travel overview: Dalarnas Län.