Qvarnstensgruvan

About the museum

The Lugnåsberget in Mariestad Municipality is marked by a millstone industry that, according to oral tradition, began with Cistercian monks in 1147 and continued until 1918. The millstones were first quarried in open pits and from the 1800s also underground. On the hill there are about 60 mines and 600 open-cast pits, and many finished and half-finished stones still lie in the forest.

The museum has existed since 1933. Since 1998 the tours have been run by a non-profit association, Föreningen Qvarnstensgruvan Minnesfjället (Qvarnstensgruvan Minnesfjället Association), many of whose members come from the village of Lugnås. The association trains and employs young people from the area as guides. The operation was named Working-Life Museum of the Year in 2012.

Today the area is a nature reserve and part of the Platåbergen Geopark. The tours go down into the mine that is open to visitors, where the sandstone in the ceiling bears traces of fossils. In the area there are several buildings connected with the industry, a small museum with exhibitions on working life, geology and bats, and a café.

Highlights

• Guided tour down into a millstone mine
• Small museum on working life, geology and bats
• Café with home-baked goods and local ice cream
• The Children’s Mine with treasure hunts and games
• Nature reserve in the Platåbergen Geopark
• Working-Life Museum of the Year 2012

Permanent exhibitions

• Museet i Qvarnstensgruvan – Small exhibitions on working life, geology and bats in the museum cottage by the mine.
• Guidad tur i gruvan – Tour down in the mine where millstones were quarried, with accounts of life and work in earlier times.

Founded

1933

Operated by

Föreningen Qvarnstensgruvan Minnesfjället

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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

From the car park a hilly gravel forest path of about 700 metres leads down to the mine. For those who cannot walk there is an alternative route where you can drive all the way into the area; it is only open when the museum is open, and information is on the notice board at the car park. The entrance to the mine is 70 cm wide, and the floor is smooth and slightly sloping.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

The Children’s Mine has games, puzzles, treasure hunts and searching for mine mice (gruvmöss). The short mine tour suits children.

Getting there & parking

The mine lies between the E20 and road 26, about 13 km from Mariestad near Lugnås church. In summer loose sheep and goats may graze in the area, so dogs must be kept on a leash.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Small café with home-baked goods, waffles, coffee and local ice cream. Small shop with crafts by local artists. Modern composting toilets (mulltoaletter) in the area.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The whole area with guides can be rented for events, for a few hours or a whole day. There is a stage for musical performances.

Plan your visit