Skultuna is a locality in the province of Västmanland. It is a short distance north of Västerås and it is famous for its old manufacturing company Skultuna Messingsbruk. The production today mostly consists of home decorations made of brass.
The brassworks has for a long time been one of the leading employers, but better communications for the 3.400 inhabitants have resulted in many commuting to jobs in Västerås.
A Short History of Skultuna
The name of the locality comes from the former parish. Skultuna has two parts, “Skul” is debated, but “tuna” usually means enclosure.
Skultuna Parish
The local church dates all the way back to the beginning of the 14th century. Skultuna was at the time the church village adjacent to the church. The rapids along the river Svartån were perfect for mills and it was eventually the reason why King Karl IX found the area of interest for further development.
Skultuna Messingsbruk
Skultuna Messingsbruk was established already in 1607 by the Swedish King Karl IX. This was the start of the Swedish brass industry. The industry in the area had already in the 1670s grown enough to start exporting brass to countries around Europe.
From the 19th century onwards, life in and around Skultuna was highly affected by the development at the brassworks. The number of employees increased even after economic hardships. The higher number of workers also meant increased urban development around the works.
The brassworks is today one of the oldest companies in the world and the locality has expanded further with the possibility for its residents to commute to work in Västerås.
Things to Do and See
The main attraction of the locality is most likely the old brassworks, but what else is there to explore?
Skultuna Messingsbruk
It is possible to visit the brassworks and it hasn’t moved since 1607. Many of the old buildings are open for visits and the factory shop is also on the premises.
Bruksmuseet
Bruksmuseet, the Works Museum, is housed next to the factory shops for anyone looking to learn more about the brassworks’ long history.
Skultunabadet
Skultunabadet is the local outdoor swimming pool. The area includes in addition to four swimming pools, a sauna, a café, and other outdoor beach activities.
Skultuna Church
Just to the south of the urban area is the church. With a history dating back to the Middle Ages, this is most likely the oldest still standing building here.
How to Get to Skultuna
- Flights: The closest airport is Stockholm Västerås Airport (VST), 21 kilometers away, which has mostly low-cost carriers. In addition, there is Stockholm-Arlanda Airport (ARN), 110 kilometers away with both domestic and international flights.
- Car: Skultuna is along a small country road north of Västerås.
- Bus: Local and regional buses from VL connect Skultuna with the surrounding region.
- Train: The closest train stations are in either Hallstahammar, Surahammar, or Västerås.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 121 kilometers (1h 31min)
- Gothenburg – 393 kilometers (4h 48min)
- Malmö – 607 kilometers (6h 32min)
- Linköping – 199 kilometers (2h 38min)
- Kiruna – 1197 kilometers (14h 5min)
Find out more about other destinations in Sweden by visiting our page Exploring Sweden
