Bergslagens medeltidsmuseum

About the museum

Bergslagens medeltidsmuseum (Bergslagen Medieval Museum) opened in autumn 2012 and consists of the visitor centre Berghuset (the Mountain House) and the blast furnace area Nya Lapphyttan in Karlberg in Norberg. Norberg's bergslag (mining district) is one of Sweden's oldest places for iron ore mining, and activity was already taking place here in the 12th century. In the 13th century ironworking was a thriving export industry, with almost a hundred furnaces.

Nya Lapphyttan is a full-scale reconstruction of the medieval blast furnace Lapphyttan in the village of Olsbenning. That site was investigated archaeologically in the 1970s and 1980s and showed that the miners already had a water-powered blast furnace producing liquid pig iron in the Middle Ages, one of the oldest examples in Europe. The reconstruction is the only medieval blast furnace in the world that has been run and has produced pig iron in modern times.

The area is laid out as a small miners' village, where visitors can look into the furnace huts and learn about bellows, water wheels and the history of iron. In the visitor centre there are exhibitions and a small shop with books and souvenirs, and on the green space children can borrow stilts and game balls and dress up in medieval clothes. Guided tours are offered during the summer.

Highlights

• Full-scale reconstruction of a medieval blast furnace that has been run in modern times
• Miners' village with furnace huts, bellows and water wheels
• Exhibitions and shop in the visitor centre Berghuset
• Guided tours during the summer
• Play with stilts, game balls and medieval clothes for children

Permanent exhibitions

• Nya Lapphyttan – Full-scale reconstruction of the medieval blast furnace and the miners' village with furnace huts, bellows and water wheels.
• Utställningar i besökscentret – Exhibitions on the Norberg bergslag and iron production in the Middle Ages, in the visitor centre Berghuset.

Founded

2012

Operated by

Norbergs kommun

Admission & discounts

The price applies to the guided tour in summer 2026.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The surface varies between gravel walkways and natural forest paths, but the terrain is mostly flat. There are steps into the reconstructed buildings. Two accessible parking spaces are located at the visitor centre. There is a toilet at the car park.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area

A large green space where children can borrow stilts and game balls and dress up in medieval clothes. Children up to and including 17 go free of charge on the guided tour.

Getting there & parking

From the town centre it is about a 15-minute walk or 4 minutes by car (just over 1 km): follow Malmgatan over Norbergsån, turn left onto Västanforsvägen towards the signs for Nya Lapphyttan and continue for about 900 metres, then turn right at the sign and follow the gravel road for about 200 metres.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

A small shop with books and souvenirs in the visitor centre. Tables for picnic coffee brought along and a prepared barbecue area are on the site.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit