Our sites and facilities: Stollbergs gruva

Stollberg mine, also called the ”Silver mountain”. Rich mineral site.


Opening times:
Self-guided tour. Well signposted. Well marked path. A watchtower from the top of the mine.
Guided tours certain days during the summer.
Old-fashioned market in June. “The Fight over the Silver”, a play about Stollberg mine,
based on a true story from the 17th century. Traditional food is served afterwards. For details, tickets and information contact
the tourist office +46 (0)240-66 01 45.
Information: Ludvika & Smedjebacken tourism.

Minerals, Open-cast mine, Watchtower, Walking paths, Old-fashioned market

The Stollberg mine (Wäster Silfberg) stretches for five miles, from Shisshyttan in the north to Silfhyttan in the south. The mine is mentioned in the Royal Charter proclaimed by King Magnus Eriksson in 1354 for the homesteaders in Norberg, and the same rights were extended to the smelting-house owners in Silferberget.

The mining of silver by the Crown started in 1552 at the still mighty Biskopsberget open-cast mine at Stollberget. Even though iron production was the most important activity, priority was nonetheless given to silver. In the 17th century, the running of the mine was leased to a number of noblemen, who invested in new mining equipment and facilities. Russian prisoners of war were made to work in the mines by Count Jacob de la Gardie, who forced them to live in atrocious conditions in cave holes and dugouts. These men gave their names to the Russian cemetery in the area.

Silver-mining was abandoned in 1754 after the take-over of the mines by Jenning & Finlay, a company which concentrated production on ironmaking. At the end of the 19th century, the mining of lead and zinc ore was instituted, followed in 1918 by limonite ore.

Looking down into the Biskopsberget open-cast mine, which is situated at the top of the hill, is like looking into the "doors of hell", as someone once said. The opening is so dark that it is almost impossible to see the bottom. In recent times, the friends of the Väster Silvberg mine, as it is named today, have built a lookout tower in the design of a pithead, and the panoramic view enables visitors to see for miles, as far as Smedjebacken and Ludvika.