Archaeology handicrafts and science and technology sites to visit Sweden

This is where you can get a copy of the famous Dalarna horse, handmade in the purest tradition. More authentic than this, we can not do. If you want to make the original, no worries, because it is possible to order wooden horses of any color, and this, directly from the website! Thus, you will have only the embarrassment of the choice to please you and your friends. Good thing: it is cheaper to buy your horse in Nusnäs than in a store or a tourist office!

This village is a symbol of the history of industry and commerce in the country. A kitschy experience for some, exciting for others, the village consists of houses made entirely by hand in the Viking way. Torch, straw and wood. Dressed in period costumes, the inhabitants are busy in the shipyard, carving the bow of the last drakkar, or weaving leather shoes, tanning skins and sharpening arrows. Children can dress up.

On arrival, one is immediately impressed by the gigantic hole caused by a landslide in 1687, which can be better appreciated from a small observatory opposite the museum. This copper mine is one of the largest in Europe. It can be visited today, as its activity was stopped in 1992. Helmets and overalls are provided, then the long descent leads you into huge rooms dug by hand, then by machines for centuries, and along galleries and gutters that spread over 80 km!

These red huts with white windows and sills are unique. They were built to allow parishioners who lived far away to come and attend church services and therefore to stay for a few days. Even today this tradition is respected and the owners cannot live here all year round! At number 253, located at Framlänningsvägen, the cottage Kyrkstuga is open during the summer months. Built around 1750, it reflects the constructions made by the bourgeoisie at that time.

Discovered in the ^15th century, this silver mine was extracted until 1908, that is five centuries of activity! Today it is the property of the city of Sala and is a popular attraction in the region. Several guided tours are offered: one at 60 meters underground, another at 150 meters, and a combined tour. As a miner of the time, you will discover impressive rooms, lakes and underground waterways!

Following the road 363 to the north, we reach the river Vindel which we can follow up to the town of Åmsele. In several places, the river accelerates to form rapids that are sometimes impressive. A little after Åmsele, about a hundred kilometers from Umeå, a superb site has been created where the river splits into several arms. Ideal for a picnic in the middle of nature. Or for an afternoon of fishing. Trout are predominant!

This is a little known site, but it has the largest concentration of rock engravings in Northern Europe, made between 4000 and 1500 BC. The tribes and groups of hunters and fishermen who populated this valley have left thousands of frescoes, drawings and symbols on the rocks. Characters, elks, footprints, tapered boats... These works can be seen every day from June 15 to August 15, when the water level drops due to the action of dams.

In Strömsund, take Route 342 which leads to the splendid caves of Korallgrottan, a little after Stora Blåsjön, near the Norwegian border. This 6 km long underground labyrinth was discovered only in 1985. 

A guided tour of the largest underground iron ore mine in the world. The tour takes you 540 meters underground on an underground track that the bus can take (the mine has 400 km of them)! The development of the mine, its impact on the city - and the ongoing displacement of certain neighborhoods - and the processing of iron are explained in broad strokes, before showing some old machines and other tools in a small museum.

The walled village of Västergarn, 5 km south of Tofta Strand, was a major trading center in Viking times. The history is clearly expressed in the town walls, the medieval church and the ruins of the old church and castle. It is believed that the city wall was built around the year 1000 and that it originally surrounded Västergarn completely. Today it is about 1 km long. There is no similar site on Gotland, and in Sweden the most comparable site is probably the walled city of Birka.

For Sweden, the First World War meant great difficulties in keeping in touch with the outside world, especially over long distances. This radio station, which was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2004, is unique in the world. Built between 1922 and 1924, it houses the only working alternator transmitter. It was used for telegraphic communication with the American base on Long Island and ceased to be used in 1996.

Five kilometres east of Västerås, this unique - and free - site attracts thousands of tourists every year. It is indeed the largest burial mound in Sweden, a remnant of this crossroads during the Viking period and a place where the king passed through after his coronation in the Middle Ages. The site is characterized by a long line of standing stones and contains one of the most remarkable runic stones in the country. Not to be missed, winter or summer. Information at the tourist office.

One of the best glass factories in the region. Possibility to follow a guide for the visit. The site is on display, due to the success of the company. Here they blow pieces for the whole house, with very nice hand painted patterns. You can also visit the Kosta Art Gallery, which exhibits artists who work with glass. Here you can see famous Swedish and international artists, all of whom have a passion for crystal.

Behind the cathedral is a very old Viking burial stone dating back to the year 1000. Found in the east chapel, it has a rune text engraved in the shape of a snake. The translation can be found on a nearby descriptive panel: "Stone erected by Tyke the Viking in memory of Gunnar, son of Grim. May God protect his soul".

The runic alphabet is also detailed: the opportunity to write your first name with the letters of the ancient Scandinavian peoples.

A little out of the city centre, attached to the university, this centre allows young and old alike to discover certain modern technological inventions and to understand how they work. A much smaller Cité des sciences! The main themes are concentrated on the major Swedish activities: mining, fishing, forestry, etc. Texts in Swedish are often in English, but the most important thing is to be able to touch and test! A nice introduction to the main economic activities in Swedish Lapland.

This site is one of a kind. It is the only space base open (intermittently) to civilians. Rockets and atmospheric balloons are launched here. A tour including transportation to Esrange, presentation, guided tour is possible. For those who have less time and a smaller budget, a Visitor Center is open in the summer on the spot, where a shorter and lighter version of the tour is available. Book in advance.

Mining is the engine of the local economy and the reason for the city's expansion. Two companies exploit the deposits here: LKAB for iron and AITIK for copper. It is therefore possible to go underground to understand how iron ore is extracted or to discover the impressive fault where the copper comes from. We discover the role of the different machines and miners, as well as the importance of these materials in our daily lives. Original and instructive visits.

The church city of Arvidsjaur is extremely well preserved. These pyramid-shaped Lappish tents were never permanently inhabited by the Sami, but were used as overnight accommodation during religious retreats. The buildings are still owned by the Sami people today. It is the largest preserved Saami village, with many outbuildings and barns dating from the ^18th century. Not to be missed if you pass by Arvidsjaur!

A superb site at the intersection between the Piteälven and Vitbäcken rivers near the town of Vidsel. From Jokkmokk on the road 45,70 km before Arvidsjaur, turn left on Route 374 on 35 km to the village of Bredsel. Just before joining, the Vitbäcken and Piteälven rivers turn into a timeless succession of rapids. The flow of the river is enormous. In order to be better able to attend the show, the banks have been set up in an enchanting place of relaxation spaces for the family in the midst of an offshoot of calm streams.

Tom and Lotta Svensson are reindeer herders. They will show you how to herd the herd, help you get acquainted with the bear huts and talk about shamanism over a good fire and coffee. An interesting, enriching and authentic way to immerse yourself in the local culture. Several tours are available, ask the establishment directly. In the summer, it is possible to spend one or more nights in a kåta, a traditional shelter. All this in a relaxing natural setting.