Malmberget – Mining History, Cultural Landscape and Activities

Malmberget is a place where mining history and visible change are closely intertwined. Parts of the town have been demolished or relocated as a result of mining, while houses are being moved, areas abandoned and new neighbourhoods created. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home can therefore tailor their stay to different interests: cultural history, outdoor activities or a closer examination of the town’s development.

Mining history that shapes the town

Iron ore mining in Malmberget began in 1741 on Mount Illuvaara, which was later called Malmberget. Large-scale industrial mining has been carried out here for more than 100 years. The expansion of LKAB’s mining operations beneath the town has led to parts of Malmberget being gradually demolished or relocated. In Gällivare and Malmberget, this social transformation is directly visible: houses are moved, areas disappear and new neighbourhoods emerge.

Malmberget is designated as a culturally significant national landscape. The mining town has distinctive buildings that reflect social development since the late 19th century. The Malmbergsmodellen offers an illustrative way to explore this history. The scale model shows the town’s buildings and topography and documents the disappearing Malmberget. The Environmental Zone Park also contains information about what the towns looked like before the buildings were demolished.

The Gropen is also important for getting around the town, as it divides Malmberget into two parts. The area around Kåkstan is fenced off while work is ongoing to prevent vandalism. This restriction is part of the town’s current development and should be taken into account when planning your own routes. Allhelgonakyrkan provides another cultural highlight: the stone church has a wooden interior.

Activities between railway tracks and nature trails

Tippsta Disc Golf Park combines sporting activity with an open landscape. The outdoor area includes large grassy spaces, nature trails, pine trees and leafy woodland. The park has 18 baskets along the railway. This allows you to add an active outing to your stay in Malmberget without experiencing the town solely through its mining history.

The park’s activity trail runs mainly along Järnvägsgatan and Gällivarevägen. It is cleared of snow year-round for pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders and roller skiers, among others. Another park in Malmberget is intended to remain open to the public for an extended period and serve as an excursion destination and activity area. The town’s events calendar also features MAIF’s Brasrally, an annual event connected with the Walpurgis celebrations.

The right accommodation for your travel plans

When looking for accommodation in Malmberget, it is worth setting a clear priority: would you like to focus on the town’s history and the changes taking place at the mining site, or should outdoor activity shape the rhythm of your days? A holiday apartment may be just as suitable for one set of travel plans as a holiday home is for another; what matters is which destinations you would like to combine and which location suits your own daily plans. Before making your decision, therefore, check the immediate surroundings, the accessibility of your planned activities and the details provided for the relevant accommodation.

Other destinations you can discover while searching include Nattavaara, Puoltikasvaara, Skaulo, Ritsem, Koskullskulle and Gällivare.

Back to the main travel overview: Gällivare.