Bergslagen

Bergslagen is a historic mining district in central Sweden. The name, meaning “the mountain district,” refers to a broad area that spans parts of Västmanland, Örebro and Dalarna counties, with extensions into neighboring regions. It is characterized by a concentration of ore-bearing bedrock and a long tradition of mining and metalworking.

From the Middle Ages onward, Bergslagen was a major source of iron, copper and other metals, and its mining and smelting industries shaped the local economy and towns. The region played a key role in Sweden’s early modern economy, contributing to the country’s wealth and military power during several centuries. Notable sites include the Falun copper mine, part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mining Area of the Great Copper Mountain, and the Sala Silver Mine near Sala.

In modern times, the heyday of Bergslagen’s large-scale mining declined, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today the area is primarily known for its mining heritage, museums, and cultural landscapes that attract tourists and researchers. The term Bergslagen remains in use in geology to describe an ore province and in regional planning and cultural contexts to denote the historic mining belt that shaped central Sweden’s development.