Sala silvergruva
Sala silvergruva: old silver mine with guided tours down to 60 metres, exhibitions and a large cultural heritage area.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Silver was mined in Sala from the end of the 15th century, and traces suggest silver production may have begun as early as the 13th century. Gustav Vasa called the mine “Svea rikes skattkammare” (the treasury of the realm of Svea), and between 1538 and 1548 production peaked at about four tonnes of pure silver a year. The mine was powered by an extensive water system, parts of which still survive around Sala.
In the 16th and 17th centuries the mine was expanded with deeper shafts and pumping works; the first water-powered pump was installed in 1595. Drottning Christinas schakt (Queen Christina’s shaft) was the world’s deepest at the end of the 17th century, and Carl XI’s shaft, at 318.6 metres, is the mine’s deepest. In 1624 the town of Sala was founded a couple of kilometres from the mine.
The mine closed in 1908 but was reopened after the Second World War and operated until 1962. The Storgruvan (Great Mine) has about 20 km of tunnels and a couple of hundred underground chambers. Today the area is a cultural heritage and visitor destination with 48 heritage buildings, guided tours underground, exhibitions, a restaurant and a hostel.
Highlights
- Guided tours down to 60 metres
- Carl XI’s lave (headframe), Sweden’s oldest of its kind
- The exhibition in Skrädhuset with VR and augmented reality
- The experience “Från ljus till mörker” (From Light to Darkness) in Ångmaskinhuset
- The Great Mine Tour through the deeper parts of the mine
- Konstmästargården with restaurant and café
Permanent exhibitions
- Skrädhuset – blyglans, zinkblände och metallerna – Exhibition on the mine’s minerals and metals, with a 3D model of the mine in augmented reality, VR glasses and Minecraft.
- Från ljus till mörker – Ångmaskinhuset – An immersive journey back in time down Drottning Christinas schakt.
- Carl XI:s schakt och lave – Sweden’s oldest lave stands over the shaft, which reaches 318 metres deep; visitors can walk out onto the restored bridge.
- Founded
- 1500
- Operated by
- Sala Silvergruva AB
Admission & discounts
| Adults | SEK 275 |
|---|---|
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · With a valid companion card, the companion enters free of charge. |
| 60-metre tour (75 min) | SEK 275Guided tour down to 60 metres. |
| Tales and legends from the underground – autumn break tour (75 min) | SEK 295Valid during the autumn break. |
| The Great Mine Tour – Makalös Special (3 hours) | SEK 895Tour off the usual route down to 60 metres. |
| Private tour – Gruvfogden’s above-ground walk (60 min) | SEK 2,500Price per group. |
| Private tour 60 metres (75 min) | SEK 3,250Price per group of 1–10 participants. |
| Entrance ticket to the exhibitions | –Bought on site with Swish or cash; the visitor chooses the amount. Valid for the exhibitions for one day. |
All mine tour tickets also give access to the area’s exhibitions. Tickets are booked and paid for via the website; during peak season (from after midsummer until the start of school) tickets are also sold on site outside Anfarten. A booking is binding if less than 48 hours remain before the tour.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- 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 mine tours go up and down by stairs; there is no lift into the mine. Konstmästargården and Direktörsbostaden have a wheelchair-accessible ramp. Skrädhuset (the museum building) has a lift to the second floor and a spacious toilet on the ground floor. Accessible toilets are available in Konstmästargården and Skrädhuset.
Kids & families
Great for kids & familiesRecommended for ages 5+
- Family tours & workshops
- Baby changing facilities
Age limit of 5 years for the mine tours. During the autumn break, activities include craft sessions in Ateljén and a bat hunt on the site.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Sala is reached by train and bus; routes can be checked at sj.se, ul.se and vl.se.
By car
Parking available
Visitor parking with space for cars, motorhomes and coaches at the exit from road 56 (Västeråsvägen). There are 4 charging points for electric cars. No motorhome pitch on the mine site.
Sala is an hour’s drive from Stockholm and 30 minutes from Västerås. A bus can usually drive up to the site to drop off and collect passengers.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
Konstmästargården has a restaurant, café and souvenir shop. Baby changing tables are available in Skrädhuset and Konstmästargården. Dogs are welcome on a lead above ground and in Konstmästargården, but not in the other buildings or in the mine.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
Conference and meeting rooms are available in Konstmästargården and Direktörsbostaden, among others, as well as accommodation on the site.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 75 min |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The mine is about 4 degrees all year round, so warm, fully enclosing clothing and sturdy shoes are recommended; helmets are lent out. The minimum age for going down into the mine is 5, and children must be able to manage the stairs themselves; babies are not allowed on the tours. The tour starts at the set time at Anfarten. |
