In Malmberget, mining history and the transformation of the town are closely intertwined: mining shapes its historical context, while demolitions, relocations and new neighbourhoods make social change visible. There is also a scale model, the town’s division into two parts and specific leisure activities. This lets you consider culture, urban development and activities as distinct focal points of a stay.

Mining and the Transformation of the Town

Iron ore mining began in 1741 on Mount Illuvaara, later called Malmberget. Large-scale industrial mining has been carried out in Malmberget for more than 100 years. The year marks the start of mining at Illuvaara; the reference to more than 100 years concerns the duration of large-scale industrial mining in the town. LKAB’s expansion of mining beneath the town has led to parts of Malmberget being gradually demolished or relocated.

The Gropen divides Malmberget into two parts. At the same time, social change is directly visible in Gällivare and Malmberget: houses are being relocated, areas are disappearing and new neighbourhoods are emerging. The town’s division and the changes caused by mining are two distinct aspects of its development.

Culture and Local History

The Malmbergsmodellen documents the disappearing Malmberget through a scale model of the town’s buildings and topography. Malmberget is also designated a nationally significant cultural landscape: a mining town with distinctive buildings that reflect social development since the late 19th century. The model and the designation focus on different aspects: the town’s layout on the one hand, and its longer-term social development on the other.

The environmental zone park in Malmberget contains information about what the areas looked like before the buildings were demolished. Allhelgonakyrkan is a stone church with a wooden interior; it is currently closed to visitors. The area around Kåkstan is fenced off during the ongoing work to prevent vandalism.

Leisure and Activities

Tippsta Disc Golf Park has 18 baskets along the course. The outdoor area includes large grassy spaces, nature trails, pine trees and leafy trees. Tippsta Disc Golf Park therefore combines a clearly defined leisure activity with an area featuring a variety of natural elements.

A park in Malmberget is intended to remain open to the public for an extended period and serve as a destination for outings and a place for activities. The activity route in a park in Malmberget is planned to run mainly along Järnvägsgatan and Gällivarevägen. The route is intended for pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders and roller skiers year-round; snow clearing is planned, among other things. The planned route therefore differs from the disc golf park: it is intended to accommodate several types of activity and be used throughout the year.

MAIF’s Brasrally is an annual event held in connection with Walpurgis celebrations. If you would like to include it in your trip, check the event dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Puoltikasvaara, Skaulo, Ritsem, Koskullskulle, Gällivare, Nattavaara.

Return to the main travel overview: Gällivare.