Västanfors hembygdsgård

About the museum

Västanfors hembygdsgård lies by the Strömsholm Canal and Kronprinsessan Victorias sluss (Crown Princess Victoria's Lock) in the Västanfors district of Fagersta, in an area that is part of Ekomuseum Bergslagen. Västanfors bruk (ironworks) was established here in 1611, and since the 1600s ironmasters linked to Västanfors hytta (furnace) have lived and worked on the site. When the canal was rebuilt in the middle of the 19th century, it was cut across the manor's grounds. The main building was demolished, while the two wings were rebuilt beside the canal.

The local heritage farm has about twenty red buildings, several of which have been moved here from other places. These include a miner's farm (bergsmansgård), a soldier's cottage from Aspbenning, Mor Stina's cottage, which shows a workers' home from around 1900, a bakehouse, loft storehouses and storehouses (logar). The northern manor-house wing is a museum and shows an upper-class home from the early 20th century, where Malla Löwenhielm was the last to live, until her death in 1954.

In the old grain store there is the Handelsboden (general store) with a shop and museum, a flea market (loppis) and a theatre museum for children. The Rune Lindström Museum honours the writer and actor from Västanfors who wrote Himlaspelet. The area also has a café, a technology park with the canal in miniature, a play cottage and the classroom Skolan Lek & Nostalgi. Each year there is, among other things, a Midsummer celebration and the Christmas programme Gammaldags Jul (Old-Fashioned Christmas) in the manor-house wing.

Highlights

• Manor-house wing showing an upper-class home from the early 20th century
• The miner's farm, the soldier's cottage and Mor Stina's cottage
• The Rune Lindström Museum about the author of Himlaspelet
• General store and theatre museum in the old grain store
• Technology park with the canal in miniature for children

Permanent exhibitions

• Herrgårdsflygeln – The northern wing shows an upper-class home from the early 20th century; before Christmas it is decorated as in the days of the works owners.
• Bergsmansgården och soldattorpet – Furnished buildings showing how a miner and a soldier lived, and Mor Stina's cottage from around 1900.
• Rune Lindströmsmuseet – One-room museum with walls painted with the author's poems, pictures and texts about his life.

Operated by

Fagersta-Västanfors Hembygds- och Fornminnesförening

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

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Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Technology park with the canal in miniature, a play cottage, the classroom Skolan Lek & Nostalgi and Krakel Spektakel's kiosk. Theatre museum for children in the Handelsboden.

Getting there & parking

The local heritage farm lies next to the Västanfors lock by the Strömsholm Canal and has a guest harbour.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Café with antique furnishings and home-baked fika bread, and the Handelsboden with local products, gifts and crafts. In summer, the Hamnkrogen by the Strömsholm Canal.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Premises at the local heritage farm can be hired, including the lodge (logen) for larger parties.

Plan your visit