Gamla Pershyttans bergsmansby
Cultural reserve and well-preserved mining village south of Nora, with a blast furnace, a water wheel, mines, a visitor centre and an exhibition on the history of ore mining.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Iron has been mined in Pershyttan since the 14th century. The village grew up around the blast furnace, and the bergsmän (mining smallholders) jointly owned the mines, the forests and the furnace (hyttan). The bergsmän lived closest to the furnace, while mine workers and charcoal burners lived in the crofts (torp) farther out. Storgruvan, Åkergruvan and Lockgruvan still bear witness today to one of the country’s oldest industrial environments; furnace and mining operations ended for good in the mid-20th century.
Water drove the village’s operations: it powered bellows, pumps, a mill and a sawmill. Pershyttan’s great water wheel is one of the largest preserved in Sweden and drove, via a long rod transmission (stånggång), a so-called konstgång, as well as pumps and hoists (spel) in the mines. The wheel and rods are set in motion during guided demonstrations in the summer.
Gamla Pershyttan, 128 hectares, was declared a cultural reserve (kulturreservat) in 2004 by the county administrative board (länsstyrelsen). The visitor centre houses the museum and a permanent exhibition on the history of ore mining, and the area can be explored on your own all year round.
Highlights
- The blast furnace (hyttan) and the bergsmän farmsteads
- One of Sweden’s largest preserved water wheels, with rod transmission
- Guided tours in Lockgruvan, about 40 metres underground (in summer)
- Visitor centre with a permanent exhibition on ore mining
- Nature and culture trail of about 6 km
Permanent exhibition
- Utställning om malmbrytningens historia – Permanent exhibition in the visitor centre on how iron ore was mined in Pershyttan’s mines and how mining and the bergsman village have shaped the area.
- Operated by
- Stiftelsen NJOV
Admission & discounts
| Guided tour in Lockgruvan, adult | SEK 100 |
|---|---|
| Guided tour in Lockgruvan, young person aged 10–17 | SEK 50 |
The village and the visitor centre can be visited on your own (listed as free by a regional visitor portal). Guided tour in Lockgruvan: adult SEK 100, young people (ages 10–17): SEK 50; children (ages 0–9) free. Tickets are booked via nortic.se or bought at the tourist office in Nora; group booking May–October via Nora turistbyrå.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- 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 Hyttstigen (furnace trail) and the visitor centre can be visited by wheelchair. The Gruvstigen (mine trail) and the nature and culture trail are not adapted for wheelchairs or rollators. An accessible toilet is at the visitor centre.
Kids & families
Going down into Lockgruvan is allowed from the age of three; children under twelve must be accompanied by an adult.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
In summer, museum trains run from Nora station (Nora Bergslags Veteran-Jernväg), and on some Saturdays a rail bus runs to Pershyttan.
About 3 km south of Nora; by car about 30 minutes from Örebro via national road 50.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
Hyttans Café in Gamla Pershyttan serves fika and sandwiches. The Tågvagnscafé (restaurant carriage from NBVJ) was, at the latest information, closed until further notice.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The meeting point for guided tours is the visitor centre in Pershyttan. Going down into Lockgruvan: minimum age three years; children under twelve must be accompanied by an adult. Helmets are required and are provided on site, mainly in adult sizes. |
