Discover the Culture Route Dalarna through art, history and living traditions
Dalarna is a landscape where culture is not just told – it is experienced. Here, historical environments, world heritage sites, artists' homes and living crafts coexist in a landscape that has shaped both Sweden and the Swedish identity.
Culture Route Dalarna includes nine iconic destinations:
- Verket/Avesta Art
- Ornässtugan
- Carl Larsson-gården
- Dalarna museum
- Falun Mine
- Hildasholm
- Nils Olsson Dala horses
- The Zorn Museum
- Porphyry Museum
Check the opening hours of each operator before arrival, as they can vary throughout the year.
1. The work/Avesta Art
Contemporary art in an industrial heritage setting
In Avesta, raw industrial history meets innovative contemporary art. Verket is housed in a former ironworks and serves as the venue for the annual summer exhibition Avesta Art, where Swedish and international artists interpret the site and the world we live in.
Here you move through powerful brick halls, filled with sound, light and large-scale artwork – an immersive cultural experience that stays with you long after your visit.
Read more about Verket / Avesta Art - contemporary art in Avesta
2. Ornässtugan
A key site in Swedish history
Beautifully located on a peninsula in Lake Runn between Borlänge and Falun lies Ornässtugan, one of Dalarna's oldest preserved log houses. The site is closely connected with Gustav Vasa's dramatic flight through Dalarna – a story that still characterizes Swedish historiography today.
A visit offers a vivid and tangible insight into 16th-century Sweden, where the setting and stories together bring history to life.
Read more about Ornässtugan - a historic site in Borlänge
3. Carl Larsson-gården
An artist's home that became a style
In Sundborn lies Carl Larsson-gården, one of the world's most renowned artists' homes. This is where Carl and Karin Larsson created their shared life's work – a home where art, design and family life merge into a harmonious whole.
The colourful interiors and beautiful garden offer an intimate insight into an artistic life that has had a profound influence on the image of the Swedish home, both nationally and internationally.
Read more about Carl Larsson-gården in Sundborn
4. Dalarnas museum
Stories from all of Dalarna - the perfect starting point
Dalarnas museum in Falun is a natural starting point for anyone wanting to learn more about Dalarna. Here you'll find a broad introduction to the region's history, art and traditions – from folk costumes and Dala horses to modern design and contemporary craft.
The museum offers a rich program for different audiences, engaging activities for children, new exhibitions and a well-stocked museum shop.
Read more about Dalarna museum in Falun
5. Falun Mine
Part of the World Heritage Site that shaped a nation
Falun Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of Sweden's most significant historical landmarks. For centuries, the mine was the country's economic engine and laid the foundation for both prosperity and international influence.
Today, visitors can explore the unique mining landscape, descend into the mountain and discover stories of work, everyday life and technological innovations.
Read more about Falun Mine - part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Falun
6. Hildasholm
Culture, art and gardens in harmony
By the shores of Lake Siljan in Leksand lies Hildasholm, the home built by physician and author Axel Munthe as a wedding gift for his wife Hilda. History, architecture, classical music traditions and beautifully designed garden rooms come together here.
Hildasholm is a place for peace and reflection – where nature and culture interact in a personal and timeless setting.
Read more about Hildasholm - culture and gardens in Leksand
7. Nils Olsson Dalahästar
Swedish craftsmanship in its original setting
In the village of Nusnäs, Dala horses are still made today using traditional methods. At Nils Olsson Dalahästar, you get to follow the craftsmanship from piece of wood to finished icon – hand-carved, hand-painted and deeply rooted in Dalarna's cultural heritage.
A visit reveals how a local craft became a national symbol, loved far beyond Sweden's borders.
Read more about Nils Olsson Dalahästar in Nusnäs
8. The Zorn Museum
The art of Anders Zorn, at home in Mora
The Zorn Museum in Mora is dedicated to the artist Anders Zorn – one of Sweden's most internationally acclaimed painters. The museum features paintings, sculptures and applied art that reflect both Zorn's technical skills and his close connections to Dalarna.
Together with the neighbouring Zorngården, the home of Anders and Emma Zorn, the museum offers deep insight into the artist's life and work.
Read more about the Zorn Museum in Mora
9. Porphyry Museum
A unique material with royal history
In Älvdalen, the Porphyry Museum tells the story of porphyry – an exclusive stone used in palaces, monuments and royal gifts throughout Europe.
The museum provides a fascinating insight into Dalarna's industrial history and shows how local natural resources have gained international significance.
Read more about the Porphyry Museum in Älvdalen
Dalarna Culture Trip - nine places, a cohesive experience
Together, these destinations form a cultural journey through Dalarna – from World Heritage sites and artists' homes to living traditions and contemporary art. Here is the opportunity to experience culture in its natural environment, in a landscape that has been characterized by creativity for generations.
Explore the places, choose your own path and let culture guide the journey through Dalarna.