Fagersta: Ironworks, Lakes and Hiking Trails

Engelsbergs bruk is an outstanding example of an influential European industrial complex from the 17th to the 19th century. The complete ironworks complex from this period has also preserved a large part of its technical equipment. The owner, Nordstjernan, is responsible for guided tours at Engelsbergs bruk.

The immediate localities include Fagersta and Ängelsberg.

Culture and Industrial History

The world's oldest preserved oil refinery is located on the island of Oljeön in Lake Åmänningen near Ängelsberg. The Oljeön Museum can be visited in summer as part of a guided tour. Also in Ängelsberg, the sculpture park displays artworks outdoors in nature beside the Snytenån. New artworks are installed there every summer around a new exhibition theme.

In Dunshammar, well-preserved bloomery furnaces from the Iron Age can be seen in their original setting. The Fagersta Bruksmuseum presents the history of the ironworks and steel in Fagersta; on request, it can be opened for school classes, groups and other interested visitors.

Västanfors hembygdsgård comprises several furnished museum rooms, a manor-house wing, a café and an old shop. Visitors can walk between the cottages, through the manor park and in the lock area. In addition to the local heritage centre and the locks, a pottery workshop in a lock keeper's house can also be visited.

At Trummelsbergs bruk, visible traces of historical iron processing remain in the landscape. Olav Trummel founded the works in 1622, and they remained in operation until 1907. The site also includes a barbecue area and a wind shelter.

Pits, slag heaps, house foundations, limestone quarries, paved paths and other remains of historical iron processing can also be seen in the Jättåsarna Nature Reserve. The Bruksleden trail passes through Jättåsarna and continues through the adjacent Svartberget Nature Reserve.

Nature and Hiking Trails

The limestone-rich habitats of the Svartberget Nature Reserve provide suitable conditions for rare plants, orchids and mosses. Honey buzzards and red-breasted flycatchers have been spotted there, among other species. Svartberget also features the ruins of an old lime kiln and cave-like pits from the period of iron-ore mining.

Caves and cliffs are found at Landsberget; from a lookout point, there are views across Lake Åmänningen. At the summit there are seats, a wind shelter and a barbecue area. From spring to autumn, colourful hammocks are also available there in the hammock forest.

In Fagersta, the Bruksleden passes through Högbyn, Fagersta's highest point at 241 metres above sea level, as well as Trummelsberg and Landsberget, Fagersta's second-highest point at 217 metres. Landsbergstriangeln is a 16-kilometre circular hike through forests, past several lakes and waterways. The natural areas of Mälarbygden and Bergslagen contain around 500 kilometres of marked hiking trails in total.

In the Trummelsbergsskogen Nature Reserve, visitors can hike along the section of the Bruksleden that forms part of the approximately 16-kilometre Landsbergstriangeln and passes the Landsberget Nature Reserve. The Kråksten Nature Reserve has two marked hiking trails of approximately 2.5 and 3.6 kilometres. It is also home to the Brudslöjan waterfall, which the county administrative board describes as Västmanland's highest waterfall; its drop is five metres.

A path from the car park of the Jönsbacken Nature Reserve leads to the remains of three limestone quarries. The Malingsbo-Kloten Nature Reserve lies partly in Fagersta Municipality. An approximately 14.5-kilometre hike on the Bruksleden between Malingsbo and Örtjärnen leads through the area amid hilly woodland.

Water and Cycling Trails

The 110-kilometre Strömsholms canal follows the Kolbäcksån water system through the municipalities of Smedjebacken, Fagersta, Surahammar and Hallstahammar, passing 14 lakes along its route. The cycle path along the canal runs from Smedjebacken in the north via Fagersta and Ängelsberg to Västerås in the south. The Linjan cycle route partly follows the Strömsholms canal and passes through the centre of Fagersta.

In summer, a paddling trip to Ängelsberg can be combined with lunch or coffee at Nya Serveringen and a visit to the sculpture park. The Petrolia ferry departs below the Ängelsberg railway station; the crossing to Oljeön takes just under ten minutes.

Stora Abborrtjärn and Lilla Abborrtjärn are fishing waters stocked with rainbow trout and trout near Högbyn. Around Stora Abborrtjärn there are piers, paths, fire sites and rest areas; the area has reduced barriers and has been adapted for accessibility.

Sports and Leisure

The Fagersta Södra IK cycling park near Fageråsen offers a purpose-built MTB course with off-road tracks from 1 to 9 kilometres for different skill levels. Fageråsen also offers illuminated tracks of 2.3 and 4.2 kilometres for classic and freestyle cross-country skiing.

Fagersta Wakepark is Sweden's first full-size wake park and is located on Lake Eskiln in Fagersta. Its cable system consists of six towers. At the exit from Fagersta towards Ludvika, the Eskilnspåret is a 2.5-kilometre path for recreation and training.

The disc golf course at Risbro has nine basket targets and is suitable for both beginners and experienced players. A second disc golf course runs along the cycle and pedestrian path near Rönningen in Kolarbyn.

Fagersta Golfklubb's golf course is located in a cultural landscape characterised by parkland and woodland, directly beside Lake Hedkärrasjön, and has 18 holes. The Fagersta Golfklubb clubhouse has a restaurant. The Jonhagen Nature Reserve contains several paths and tracks that, during the golf season, are used mainly by golfers and for golf-course maintenance.

In the Jonhagen area, visible remains of the medieval Västra Mårviken farm can be seen. These include a house foundation with remains of hearths, an outbuilding foundation, a cellar foundation and surrounding agricultural cairns. The lakes around Trummelsberg often freeze early in winter and then attract long-distance skaters.

Visit Fagersta provides information about sights, accommodation and dining options in Fagersta, the county and the surrounding area.

To the higher-level travel overview: Västmanland.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Hallstahammar, Surahammar, Västerås, Skinnskatteberg, Norberg, Arboga.