Borgvik is a well-preserved former industrial town on the Borgviksälven in Grums Municipality. Its historic surroundings reflect Värmland’s industrial development from 1600 to 1900, shaped above all by sawmills, wood processing and ironworking. Borgvik is designated a national cultural heritage site of particular interest. Industrial heritage provides a common thread for your explorations: from the area’s long industrial history to individual buildings and their cultural uses today.
A closer look at the ironworks
In the 19th century, Borgvik’s ironworks had two forges, three sawmills and seven mills. These figures place these types of facilities in a particular period of the town’s history; the broader context of Värmland’s industrial development spans 1600 to 1900. Many buildings and settings of cultural and historical interest date mainly from the ironworks era of the 18th and 19th centuries. In Borgvik, you can therefore encounter both a long industrial history and more tangible traces of a later period.
A remarkable historical connection leads to Paris: steel from Borgvik was sent there for the construction of the Eiffel Tower. This connection adds a building project outside Värmland to the story of the local iron industry. It stands alongside the buildings and settings that give Borgvik’s industrial past its local character.
Museum and new uses
Borgvik Museum was originally housed in a granary used for drying grain. In 1983, the granary was converted into Borgvik Museum in connection with Billerud’s 100th anniversary. The year of the conversion marks a later layer of history than the ironworks era of the 18th and 19th centuries. The museum also lets you search digitally for historical information about places and people in Borgvik. If you are interested in local and personal histories, this search offers a distinct way to explore the town’s past.
Sliperiet also combines a former industrial building with a different use: it is a modern art gallery in a former pulp mill. Today’s Kungskvarnen dates from the early 19th century and is now a restaurant and conference centre. The two places offer different experiences: modern art in the former pulp mill, and a present-day dining and conference venue in a historic building.
A different perspective on Borgvik
Alongside its industrial heritage, Borgvik also has a notable connection to nature: one of Sweden’s northernmost beech forests is located here. This places the town’s cultural and historical story alongside a distinctive feature of its landscape. As you plan your interests, you can explore Borgvik through the lens of both its industrial history and its beech forest.
Cycling, a stopover and boating
On the Unionsleden, Borgvik is listed as a stopover for culture, leisure and overnight stays. The seventh stage of the Unionsleden runs from Borgvik to Karlstad, is 60.9 kilometres long and is designated for cycling. This lets you consider Borgvik both as a named stopover and in relation to a specific cycling stage when planning your trip.
For a different kind of outing, you can rent a boat in Borgvik for fishing or excursions. Boats are available with petrol or electric motors. If you plan to rent a boat, check availability before your trip. Alongside cultural and historical discoveries, this offers another way to plan what you would like to do during your stay in Borgvik.
Discover more destinations: Borgvik, Kristinehamn, LĂĄngserud, Grums, Eda, Brunskog, Skillingsfors, Sunne
Go to the overview of destinations: Värmland.
