Once a major copper-producing centre, Falun is a lively industrial city in Sweden’s Dalarna County. It is traversed by the Faluån River, which separates Falun’s historic centre from the UNESCO World Heritage-listed mining area. Falun is also famed as a winter sports hub, with a large ski-jumping hill, and regularly plays host to cross-country skiing championships.
Things to do in Falun
If you’re interested in Falun’s industrial past, visit the Mine Museum, which explores the history of mining in the region from the Viking Age to the modern day. You can experience what life was like for miners throughout the centuries and feel the weight of copper ore before learning about the famous scientists and inventors who have visited the Falun Mine.
At the Dalarnas Museum, you’ll find antique furnishings, folk art and cultural treasures that reflect the history of the county. The collection was started in 1862 and has grown to include around 60,000 objects. Don’t miss the recreated library of Swedish author Selma Lagerlöf or the museum store, which is stocked with souvenirs, gifts and books with a local connection.
Falun makes a good base for visiting the Carl Larsson-gården, which centres around a beautifully preserved farmhouse once belonging to Carl and Karin Larsson. Known as Lilla Hyttnäs, the homestead is open to the public and offers a fascinating insight into the artists’ lifestyle. Of particular note is the garden, which featured in many of their paintings.
Getting around Falun
Falun is around 15 minutes’ drive from Borlänge and 20 minutes from Dala Airport, which has seasonal flights to destinations across Europe. The much larger Stockholm Arlanda Airport is 2.5 hours away. Regular trains connect to the Falun Central railway station and buses travel throughout the city. The centre of Falun can easily be explored on foot.