Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.Join Britannica's Publishing Partner Program and our community of experts to gain a global audience for your work!
The town developed around an old copper mine (dating from the late 13th century) and became the headquarters of the Stora Kopparberg Mining Company, probably the oldest industrial corporation in the world, chartered in 1347. The town’s greatest period of prosperity occurred in the 17th century, when the mine’s revenue provided a major part of the national income of Sweden. Falun was chartered as a town in 1624 and again in 1641; but a cave-in at the mine in 1687 ended the town’s greatness, even though opencast copper workings were subsequently developed by the Stora Kopparberg company. In 1761 Falun was devastated by two major fires. During the first half of the 19th century it declined still further until the coming of railroads brought new growth. The copper mine was closed in the early 1990s.
Falun now has engineering works, brickyards, and chemical plants. With a mining school, teachers’ college, and hospitals, Falun is Dalarna’s cultural and medical centre, as well as its garrison town. Dalarna College has a campus in Falun. Mining relics are housed in the company’s former administrative office building. The provincial museum contains ancient and modern costumes and textiles from the area. Notable buildings include the late medieval Stora Kopparberg Church (1450–71) and the Renaissance-style Kristine Church (1642–60; restored 1904–05). Pop. (2005 est.) mun., 55,274.
Learn More in these related Britannica articles:
Dalarna, län(county) and traditional landskap(province), central Sweden. It extends from the Norwegian border in the west nearly to the town of Gävle, on the Gulf of Bothnia in the east. Dalarna county came into being in 1997 when Kopparberg county was renamed; the county capital is…
Landskap, traditional subdivision (province) of Sweden. The 25 landskap(provinces) developed during the pre-Viking and Viking eras and were independent political units with their own laws, judges, and councils. The division was based on geographical and cultural characteristics with which many people continue to identify. Although they no longer have…
Sweden, country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in northern Europe. The name Sweden was derived from the Svear, or Suiones, a people mentioned as early as 98 ceby the Roman author Tacitus. The country’s ancient name was Svithiod. Stockholm has been the permanent capital since 1523.…