Verket

About the museum

In Koppardalen by the Dalälven river there was a copper works as early as 1636 and a coin mint from 1644. Copper processing was moved to Falun in 1869, and in the 1870s a modern ironworks was built on the ruins of the copper works. The first blast furnace was put into operation in 1874. The smelting house (hyttan) was the oldest part of the plant and was closed down in 1938. When operations gradually moved to a new industrial area south-east of the town, the buildings stood empty for decades.

Avesta Municipality took over the area in 1986 and began careful renovation. The name Koppardalen was given in 1987 through a naming competition. Today Verket (The Works) is an unusually complete culture and industrial heritage site, and visitors can follow the path of the ore to iron and steel. The exhibition halls are the roasting-furnace hall (rostugnshallen), the blast-furnace hall (masugnshallen) and the Martin hall (martinhallen). In the blast-furnace and Martin halls, visitors can use an interactive torch to search for points of light that bring the plant back to life.

Every summer the art exhibition Avesta Art is shown; it started in 1995 and brings together Swedish and international artists. The dark halls, the slag-stone walls and the large furnaces make an unusual setting compared with the white rooms that otherwise characterise the art world. Guided industrial history tours are held in summer on Saturdays and Sundays.

Highlights

• Well-preserved ironworks from the 1870s in Koppardalen
• Interactive tour in the blast-furnace hall with a torch
• The annual art exhibition Avesta Art, since 1995
• The roasting-furnace hall, blast-furnace hall and Martin hall as exhibition halls
• Art workshop and mathematical puzzles in Baghdad

Permanent exhibition

• Verket – inlevelsemuseum om industrihistoria – Interactive exhibitions in the roasting-furnace hall, blast-furnace hall and Martin hall, which make the ironworks' operations, from ore to steel, understandable with modern technology.

Operated by

Avesta kommun

Admission & discounts

Entrance tickets to Verket and Avesta Art, as well as combination tickets with Avesta Visentpark valid for two days, are booked in advance. Bring the booking confirmation and valid ID. Groups of up to 25 people per guide book through Verket; for shared group tours, several guides can be engaged.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• 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

Verket is an antiquarian-preserved industrial environment with uneven floors, steep stairs, subdued lighting, and dust, cold and damp. The main entrance has no ramp: visitors using a wheelchair or pushchair are directed to a side entrance to the right of the main entrance and should ring 0226-64 51 62, and staff will open it. A lift serves all seven floors. Two wheelchairs can be borrowed on floor 1, and folding chairs are available in the entrance. There are seven toilets, two of them accessible with changing tables (floor 1 and floor 00).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

Children and adults can create a sculpture in the art workshop or solve mathematical puzzles in Baghdad. During family days, children's workshops are arranged, and the children's works are displayed in a joint exhibition. Pushchairs are directed to the side entrance.

Getting there & parking

Verket is at Kanalvägen 1 in Koppardalen, north of central Avesta and by the Dalälven river.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Lockers
• Wi-Fi

Café at the entrance with hot and cold drinks, ice cream, fika pastries and sandwiches, and a shop with souvenirs and gifts. 40 lockable storage lockers (free) and free Wi-Fi.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Verket offers conferences and venue hire.

Plan your visit