The history of the landscape of master miners

The miners of Falun were not only workers—they were also farmers and shareholders in the mine, shaping a unique social structure. Their estates, built along waterways, still bear witness to a life intertwined with industry, nature, and innovation.

The miners and their families were farmers who ran cabins outside central Falun and could therefore own shares in the mine. The cabins were built by rivers and streams with flowing water, which was a prerequisite for cabin operation.

Some of the master miners could afford to have stately farms built with accompanying gardens where the air was not as infested with smoke. Today, several miners' farms remain in varying conditions. Most are privately owned, but some are open to visitors, for example, Stabergs Master Miners estate, Linné's wedding cottage and Stora Hyttnäs.