Fagersta is a locality in the historical province of Västmanland, in a region known as Bergslagen. This is a part of Sweden that historically has been known for its many mines and ironworks. Fagersta is no exception. This is an industrial town that has developed around the old ironwork and many of the current industrial companies have the old iron and steel production. The locality lies within Västanfors District and is the seat of Fagersta Municipality in Västmanland County.
For people interested in the sport of ice hockey there are two former NHL stars who were raised in Fagersta. The first one is Tomas Sandström who began his NHL career with New York Rangers in 1984. He later won the Stanley Cup with Detroit Red Wings in 1997. Prior to that, he had also won the World Championship with Sweden in 1987. Tomas Sandström played a total of 983 games in the NHL and an additional 139 games in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings, and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.
The second of the NHL stars is Ulf Samuelsson. He played a total of 1080 NHL games and 132 Stanley Cup playoff games for the teams Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, and Philadelphia Flyers. It was during his years with the Pittsburgh Penguins that Samuelsson won the Stanley Cup in 1991 and 1992.
A Short History of Fagersta
Where Fagersta is today was once smaller settlements. These settlements existed already during the Middle Ages. It was with the establishment of a trip hammer for the processing of iron in 1611 that the modern Fagerstad’s industrial past began. The settlement of Fagersta was at this time a part of Västanfors Parish. With the development of the ironwork, the settlement expanded during the 19th century.
Fagersta together with Västanfors became the town of Fagersta in 1944. This was followed by a few decades of a town dreaming of greatness. This meant that the town rebuilt its center and its appearance changed towards what it is today. This period of major development was ongoing until the 1970s. This was a decade when steel production was halted and the industry started to struggle. The company still running the old ironwork went to the grave in 1984. The steel processing did, however, survive and there is today a handful of companies continuing this tradition in Fagersta. The largest of these is Seco Tools, but also Atlas Copco has production here.
Things to Do and See
Many of the sights in and around Fagersta are connected with the old ironworks. This is also a small town with a center that includes a few shops and restaurants. There are also rivers, lakes, and forests around town so nature is never far away for the one who looks for outdoor adventures.
Fagersta Bruksmuseum
If you want to learn more about the ironworks and the steel that have played an important role in the history of Fagersta, then a visit to the local museum might be a good start. It tells the story of the town and its industries with models, photos, and other visualizations and stories. The steel has played an important role in the local heritage.
Västanfors Hembygdsgård
Västanfors Hembygdsgård is in many ways an open-air museum for the local heritage of Västanfors Parish. It is a collection of traditional houses that have been important for the region. This is where you can learn more about the earlier life in the area and the local heritage.
Strömsholm Canal
Strömsholm Canal connects the inland along the river Kolbäcksån with Lake Mälaren. It goes as far north as Fagersta, making it one of the longest canals in Sweden. There are a total of 26 locks along the canal and three of these are in Fagersta. The locks in question are named after three royals. The first is named after the former king Gustav IV Adolf, the second after the former Queen Sofia Magdalena, and the last after Crown Princess Victoria.
Västanfors Church
Västanfors Church is the old parish church. It is a white stone church that was inaugurated in 1830. It replaced an old wooden church from 1642. The church is today a part of Västanfors-Västervåla Congregation within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden.
How to Get to Fagersta
- Flights: Borlänge Airport (BLE), or Dala Airport, is 76 kilometers to the north, and Stockholm Västerås Airport (VST) is 72 kilometers to the southeast.
- Car: Fagersta is at the intersection of Road 66 and Road 69. To the northwest is Ludvika, the northeast Norsberg and Avesta, southwest Lindesberg, and southeast Västerås.
- Bus: Buses from VL connect Fagesta with the surrounding region.
- Train: Tåg i Bergslagen has trains to and from Fagersta. Destinations include Gävle, Ludvika, and Västerås to mention a few.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 172 kilometers (1 h 52 min)
- Gothenburg – 386 kilometers (4 h 52 min)
- Malmö – 606 kilometers (6 h 37 min)
- Linköping – 220 kilometers (2 h 54 min)
- Kiruna – 1193 kilometers (13 h 45 min)
Find out more about other destinations in Sweden by visiting our page Exploring Sweden
