Falu Mine (Falu Gruva)

Falun, Dalarna County, Sweden

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Falu Mine (Falu Gruva), located in Falun in Dalarna County, is one of Sweden’s most important historical and industrial landmarks.

Copper mining began around a thousand years ago, and for centuries the mine was one of the world’s most significant sources of copper, at one point supplying as much as two-thirds of Europe’s copper demand. The mine played a major role in Sweden’s economic development and helped make Falun a center of mining technology and industry.

After operating for nearly a millennium, mining ended in 1992, and the site was later transformed into a museum and visitor attraction. Today, Falu Mine and the surrounding Mining Area of the Great Copper Mountain in Falun are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can explore historic mine tunnels, exhibitions, and the dramatic Great Pit, gaining insight into a site that shaped both Swedish history and the development of mining around the world.