During our road trip in Sweden, we managed to see quite a few UNESCO World Heritage sites and the Engelsberg Ironworks site was one of them. As the name suggests, it is an industrial complex from the 17th century where iron was extracted. It may not sound glamorous but it was far more charming than you would imagine!
Interesting facts about the Engelsberg Ironworks site
Engelsberg Ironworks site is located in central Sweden, near Ängelsberg little town and in a wooden area with multiple charming lakes (ok, like most of Sweden!). It is considered as an outstanding exemple of European Industrial complex from the 17th to the 19th centuries. As such, it was added on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1993.
Iron mining probably started in the region around 2500 years ago. In the 13th century, locals were mining for ores and producing iron to supplement agricultural activities. By the end of the 16th century, the introduction of the water-wheel and new production methods were implemented to increase the iron production. In 1681, the first Engelsberg blast furnace was built. In 1778-1779, it was replaced by the modern one we can admire today. Production of iron stopped in 1919.
The Engelsberg blast furnace
The Engelsberg Ironworks site is privately owned today as it was in the past. Some of the houses have residents, like normal people. People who live there, on a UNESCO site?! They have cars and kids and barbecues! OK I’ll stop there but that was mind blowing to me. It isn’t the only UNESCO site where normal people live. It was nether-the-less a surprise considering the size and nature of the site.
One of the office building and today a private residence
Available statistics I found are a bit old but if the trend persisted I feel special, as there were only 20,000 visitors in 2004 (report available on UNESCO site). Over the years, that’s still not a lot of people!
In 2004 there were 4 happy employees on this UNESCO site! I’m not sure there are more today!
So, what does it looks like?
Engelsberg Ironworks is an industrial complex from another era. It is composed of multiple red wooden cottages, a few mansions, barns and utility buildings like a brewery as well as office buildings and of course a blast furnace. As you can see below, it is just perfectly charming. So green, so clean, nothing like you would imagine it to be.
The main alley will take you from the parking and the visitor center all the way to the master’s garder dwelling and cellar.
On each side you will get to admire different types of buildings, with different functions. You will get to walk around some of them, like the barn which is used as archives. Some of them, you will only get to admire from a distance (except if you take the guided tour).
The ore weighthouse built in 1843
An old office building, later transformed into housing
The stable, cellar and coach house
The inspector’s building 
Above and below: The manor house
Worker’s dwelling
Above and below: the barn which is now used as archives
The master gardener’s dwelling and cellar at the end of the site (do continue to see the lake a little further)
A few sheep keep busy by trying to maintain the grass neat and tidy and provide live distraction.
A river flows gently on one side of the site, while gigantic trees provide a perfect background to the red constructions.
This private house is on the other side of the UNESCO boundaries and is just soooo charming! 
The whole place is perfectly charming, even idyllic I would dare to say and that is kind of an issue…
Engelsberg Ironworks is a site that is difficult to comprehend
As you get to know me a little bit more with every article I post, you know I have troubles with industrial sites. It’s no secret and I know, I said this many times before. I usually have a hard time comprehending fully the outstanding universal value of such sites.
Whenever I have a chance, I still go to those sites, I study them and I try to understand them. I try really hard!
With the Engelsberg Ironworks site, it is, maybe, even more difficult than some other sites I’ve been to. As many people who have visited before me will tell you, the idyllic setting described above, is the main issue. I know this may sound weird but the place looks just so charming that it is really hard to imagine its industrial past.
The blast furnace from the back
Obviously, in no way, do I mean that terrible smoke from the furnace and noice from the activity of the smelting house or the forge would make it better. But maybe, a small museum with pictures or representations of the life of the farmers / workers would be a nice addition. Everybody love seeing old tools and settings showing clothes, food, living conditions… Anything that make us feel glad that we don’t have to do, what they had to do!
So before you visit, get to know Engelsberg Ironworks better
As usual, I believe the UNESCO site provides great information to start with, including a map of the site with the purpose of each buildings.
There is another site you must know about and it is the one for the Ekomuseum Bergslagen.
The Ekomuseum is an organisation run by local volunteers which promotes over 60 heritage sites located in the region.
You can check the specific page for Engelsberg Ironworks here but please also browse through the “Want to know more section” as it is super interesting.
Researching and learning things about the place, before you visit, will greatly help you project into its past and appreciate your visit.
Overall I loved it! the place was quiet and serene, beautiful and charming. There really isn’t any reason to complain about such a visit!
The Technical bits
Entrance is free.
There is an English audio guide and tours are in Swedish. Tours will take you into parts of the sites that you can not access otherwise.
On site, you will find a little café and restrooms and that is about it!
Engelsberg Ironworks was listed as a World Heritage site by the UNESCO in 1993.
Do check the Ekomuseum Bergslagen because there is a lot more to see in this area.
The Engelsberg Ironworks site is located North West of Stockholm and it will take you approximatively 2 hours to reach.
Travelling further North? There is another UNESCO World Heritage site located roughly an hour and 1/2 away: the Mining Area of the Great Copper Mountain in Falun
Do walk around as much as you can or you’ll miss this hidden bull for example!
And my favorite UNESCO World Heritage site in Sweden remains….
the Grimeton Radio station
Not that I keep a list of favorites!
