Hällefors and Grythyttan
Hällefors, archaic spelling Hellefors, is a town in north-western Västmanland. Hällefors municipality, Hällefors kommun, is part of Örebro County, which contains tourist-friendly places such as Grythyttan and Loka.
Settlements
- Hällefors itself, an industrial town.
- Grythyttan, the second-largest town in the municipality, is famous for its restaurant academy, and Grythyttans stålmöbler, an outdoor furniture factory.
- Bredsjö, famous for cheese.
- Hjulsjö
- Hammarn
- Loka bunn, with a spa.
Understand
As most of Bergslagen, Hällefors was dependent on metal industry. Since the great decline during the 1970s, Grythyttan has emerged as a culinary cluster.
Get in
A dozen public-transport buses arrive daily from Örebro through Nora. Route 244 is very scenic.
There is also a train line from Kristinehamn.
Get around
The most practical way to get around the countryside is by car.
The Grythyttan village, including Måltidens hus, is accessible on foot.
See
- The 1950s Apartments. An exhibition of everyday life in the 1950s; years of tremendous progress for Swedish industry.
Grythyttan: The historical town centre. The slate quarry. Måltidens hus, a gastronomic academy housed in what was Sweden's pavilion at the '94 World's Fair.
Do
In Grythyttan, Take a walk around the lake, head to the swimming area marked on the tourist information office's map and then pick a path through pine and birch forest along side the lake. Swimming in the lake is also on the cards.
- Loka Brunn. Loka Brunn (well) is a spa resort in the district Loka in Hällefors municipality. It was opened in 1720 and is one of the oldest spa resorts in Sweden. The facility has 130 hotel rooms divided between 50 buildings. Loka Brunn offers spa treatments, restaurants, conference and banqueting rooms. There is a church on the grounds, used in the summer, and the Swedish Spa Museum is located here. The museum was established in 1995 and resides in four buildings from the 18th century, authentically restored. For centuries people travelled Loka to drink its water which was believed to have healing properties. During the 19th century business was booming and people came from all over the country to drink the water and get mud baths. Resorts of this kind were common at the time and guests were mostly members of the upper middle class.
- Nostalgidagarna. Is a festival in late June, commemorating Hällefors' heydays in the 1950s and '60s (when its population was twice of today), with American cars and rockabilly music.
- Finnstigen. Is an open-air museum of Finnish immigrants who have arrived since the 16th century. While the first Finns came for slash-and-burn farming, the majority came during the latter half of the 20th century, making up much of Sweden's blue-collar workforce.
Grythyttan
The historical town centre. The slate quarry. Måltidens hus, a gastronomic academy housed in what was Sweden's pavilion at the '94 World's Fair.
Buy
- Billiga Nicklas. A discount store with a broad assortment; everything from candy bars to power tools.
- In Grythyttan, Måltidens hus and the nearby Grythytte Qwarn (a watermill museum) offer high-end Swedish food and crafts.
- Nearby villages host low-cost auctions and flea markets during the summer.
Eat
- Bredsjö Blå, locally produced mold cheese.
- Grythyttans gästgivaregård is a nationally famous inn with great food and furnishing. Lunches are reasonable in price, dinners are more costly, but the height of Swedish cuisine.
- The restaurant at Måltidens hus, run by two students, serves lunch every day.
Drink
Måltidens hus i norden- Sörälgsvägen 4.
Cornelis pub- at the square of Grythyttan.
Grythyttan gästgivaregård- Prästgatan 2.
Sleep
- Hellefors Herrgård. A 18th century manor.
- Grythyttans gästgivaregård, the inn noted above, can put you up very comfotably, at a price. Located at Prästgatan 2.
Stay safe
There are mining holes in the surrounding forests. Don't fall down!