Travel Guide Falun
Falun, a town of 35,000 inhabitants located in the central Swedish province of Dalarnas, is known for an industrial monument of a special kind that is also highly interesting for tourists. The mines of Falun were centers of Scandinavian copper mining for centuries. Around 1650, more than half of the European demand for copper was mined in Falun. Divided in two by the little river Faluan, the town was divided into two unequal districts during its industrialization: There the "Abominable Side" characterized by workers' misery and pollution, opposite the "Lovely Side" defined by bourgeoisie and gentility. Incidentally, the Falun Red paint, which is so typical for many Swedish wooden houses, was developed in Falun. Since 2001, the mine (Falu koppargruva), which was abandoned in 1992 and is now open to the public as a museum, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also included in the World Heritage are historic workers' quarters.
In addition to its copper past, the town of Falun is known worldwide as a venue for important winter sports competitions and motorboat competitions. A visit to the gigantic ski jumps in the extensive Lugnet sports complex is particularly spectacular. Art lovers should make a trip to the village of Sundborn, 15 km away. There, the home of one of Sweden's most important painters and draftsmen, which has been converted into a museum, awaits a visit. Carl Larsson (1853 - 1919), who lived here since 1888, became famous for his portraits of celebrities such as Selma Lagerlöf and August Strindberg.