On occasion, we are able to spare time to visit friends in other provinces of Sweden. At the same time, we try to learn about the history and some of what's current in these places. Awhile back, we visited Dalarna County of Sweden.
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| The Flag of Dalarna County. Photo from Wikipedia. |
This city is popular for its largest ski resorts: Romme Alpin, Kläppen Ski Resort, and Orsa Grönklitt, to name a few. Vasaloppet is hosted here, in the Mora municipality. They also have a popular family park called Leksand Sommarland, with rides and activities for children and adults during the summer.
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| Dalhalla. Photo from www.dalhalla.se |
Another favorite spot is Dalhalla, an old quarry in the forest of Dalarna. In the middle of the pit stands a festival stage that seemingly looks like it is submerged in water. Dalhalla hosts several events each summer -- mostly opera, its walls similar to bleachers that rise up to at least three levels. It looks like a quarter of a football stadium from the top view.
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| Cash The Rat at Östra Silvbergs Gruva in Dalarna |
With the limited time we had there: an afternoon and the half the day after, we only had time to see a few spots. We saw the gigantic Dalahäst (Dalecarlian Horse) made of concrete, East Silverberg Mine, and St. Nicolai's Chapel.
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| The Dalahäst (The Dalecarlian Horse) - Largest Version Made of Concrete, found in the Avesta Municipality of Sweden |
Dalahäst (The Dalecarlian Horse). The making of the Dalahäst has been a Swedish tradition for centuries. Swedish artisans have been carving these wooden horses as children's toys, used as ornaments and for display, even as souvenirs.
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| Designing the Dalahäst. Photo from Grannas.com. |
The Dalahäst rose to popularity in the early 19th century in Dalarna. Production of these horses are still being manufactured by factories in Nusnäs locality:
Grannas A. Olsson and
Nils Olsson Hemslöjd. The entire process takes about two weeks. From trimming the wood, hand-carving each horse, preparation with the use of primer, before finally painting and decorating the horses.
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| Östra Silvbergs Gruva (East Silvberg's Mine) |
Östra Silvbergs Gruva (East Silvberg's Mine). This is about less than an hour's drive from town. The road is bumpy, would be more comfortable if one drove with an all-terrain vehicle instead. The forest had logging activities and you could see the cut trees piled up alongside the road all the way there.
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| Path Up the Mountain to Östra Silvbergs Gruva in Dalarna |
Östra Silvbergs Gruva used to be a quarry where silver and a small amount of gold was mined from. Currently, it's been filled with water and used as a leisure spot for picnics, swimming, and some events for satire and singing performances. Wikipedia states that the pit is said to be about 100 meters deep, and has a tunnel that runs 80 meters from the machine mine to the big mine.
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| Östra Silvbergs Gruva i Dalarna |
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| At the East Silvberg's Mine in Dalarna |
One can walk further along the water and explore the other side of this mine. It can be very relaxing to spend a sunny afternoon here with family and friends. Adjacent to this silver mine is St. Nicholas' Chapel and Cemetery.
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| Open-Air Services During Summer at Saint Nicholas' Chapel in East Silvberg, Dalarna |
"At this place stood the Chapel of East Silvberg's during the Middle Ages, built by Silvberg's Chapel Law and used by it, increased and maintained until 1861, when the congregation was separated from the Stora Tuna parish to which it belonged for ages. Here rest old parish dwellers, Silvbergmen, ancestors of those who now build and live in Silvberg and Stora Tuna. May the eternal light shine upon them."
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| A Cross on Hallow Grounds of Saint Nicholas' Chapel |
S:t Nicolai kapell. (Saint Nicholas' Chapel). This churchyard has been deserted for quite some time. It was demolished in 1854 as it was in the verge of collapsing, but is now enclosed within a wide stone wall, which was restored in the 1940's.
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| Memorial Stone Year 1663: The Remaining Grave Slab for those who lived and worked on the site. |
As seen onsite at the chapel ruins: "
This prayer for miners was read by order in the Diocese of Västerås in all parishes where mining was carried on:
'O merciful God, preserve those who work
in holes in the earth and in mines
where they must seek their livelihood
at great risk to their lives...'"
Roundabouts. In most parts of Europe, a roundabout is in place instead of driving through an intersection. It is safer and significantly lowers the risk of injury collisions. Every city seems to have a theme and a way of designing them. The roundabouts in Dalarna have interesting designs and landscaping so I took some pictures while passing by some of them.
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| Betongdalahästen (The Concrete Dalecarlian Horse) |
Avesta Municipality. On the way home, after passing several roundabouts, we were able to see the towering Dalahäst once more. At 13 meters high, it is the largest statue of the Dalecarlian Horse. This horse is quite symbolic of Swedish culture such that an American contemporary artist immigrant, Shai Dahan, has created
The Dala Project.
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| The Dalecarlian Horses at the Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport, painted by Shai Dahan. Photo from Swedavia.se |
He continues to paint murals all over Sweden of the Dalecarlian Horses and traveled back to New York last week to paint the biggest version ever seen. The Local reported it to be
almost 20 meters high on one wall of an apartment building on Broome Street in Lower East Side. See the New York mural
here.
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