The grid-patterned streets give Nora’s Wooden Town its distinctive layout. Many houses and courtyards still look as they did in the 18th and 19th centuries. Other historical themes include the railway and the mining village of Pershyttan.
Wooden Town and Railway History
A brochure explaining Nora’s houses and courtyards is available from the tourist office for a self-guided walking tour. It can help you find your way as you explore the Wooden Town at your own pace. The well-preserved Göthlinska gården museum house illustrates the life of a bourgeois family around the turn of the 20th century. The garden is open to visitors and offers a view of Lake Norasjön.
Nora Church also tells a story of a clearly defined construction period: the Neo-Romanesque basilica was built between 1878 and 1880. Kvarteret Bryggeriet is home to studios and workshops where local craftspeople and artists can be found. Nora is thus home to different forms of cultural life: historic houses, a museum house, ecclesiastical architecture and creative workshops.
The railway adds an important technological history to this picture. The Nora–Ervalla line was Sweden’s first standard-gauge passenger railway and was officially inaugurated in 1856. The railway museum displays steam locomotives and carriages. Trains operated by Nora Bergslags Veteran-Jernväg usually depart from Nora station. If you are planning a journey, check the timetable.
Mining History and Architecture
Pershyttan is a cultural reserve and one of Sweden’s best-preserved mining villages. The blast furnace still stands with all its equipment, just as it was left after its last firing in 1953. A 6 km nature and culture trail runs through the mining village and the cultural and nature reserve. Trail conditions may vary; check the latest conditions before setting out.
The centre of Gyttorp offers a different architectural focus. Ralph Erskine designed it in the 1940s and 1950s. Following an extensive and sensitive renovation in the 1990s, the centre was designated a state-protected historic building. Compared with Nora’s 18th- and 19th-century houses, it brings a distinctly later architectural period into view.
Trails, Water and Nature
The municipality of Nora has 18 nature reserves for hiking and outdoor recreation. The trails vary in length and route: Alntorps Ö has a 3 km circular trail; in Skärmarbodabergen, circular trails of up to 5.6 km pass through old-growth forest and by caves. In the nearby Järleån Nature Reserve, a 2.5 to 5 km hiking trail follows the river. Alntorps Ö also has a bathing beach with jetties and a diving tower. Conditions may vary between reserves.
There are also routes of various lengths to choose from on the water. The municipality of Nora has two developed paddling routes: Rastälven is 61 km long and Järleån is 32 km long. Water conditions and access may vary; check them before setting out. The municipality has around 70 fishing waters, many of which require a fishing licence.
Mountain bikers can access twelve different routes from Digerberget or the Pershyttan visitor centre, covering a total of 220 km. The Bergslagen Trail runs for 62 km from Lekhyttan through Kilsbergen to Pershyttan, just outside Nora; stages 4 to 7 run just outside the town. The Mine Park in Klacka-Lerberg, with views over Lake Fåsjön, is a possible stop on a cycling trip. Conditions on individual mountain-bike routes may vary, and details of Bergslagen Trail stages may be updated. Check the latest information before your trip.
Local Flavours and the Market
NoraGlass has been made in Nora since 1923. The ice cream is freshly made each day of sale according to a secret recipe. Another recurring tradition is Nora’s Christmas market: every year, handicrafts and farm products are offered for sale in streets and courtyards. Dates and programmes may change; check both before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Gyttorp, Nora, Finnshyttan, Ljusnarsberg, Kumla, Lindesberg, Lekeberg, Hällefors.
For the main travel overview: Örebro.
