Sala: Silver Mining, Art and Waterfront Trails

Sala connects the history of silver mining with art, architecture and waterfront trails. When planning a stay, you can choose based on which of these topics interests you most: the historic mine and its water system, works of art and architectural history, or trails along the waterways. Each place has its own focus and offers different insights into the town.

Silver Mining and Water System

Sala was founded as a town in 1624, approximately 2.5 kilometres northeast of the mining area. Silver production may have begun as early as the 13th century; this early date remains a possibility. Much of the historic water system of the silver mine has been preserved around Sala. At Sala Silvergruva, an exhibition in the old mine stable explores mining underwater. The founding of the town, the surviving water facilities and the exhibition thus represent different aspects of mining history.

Väsby Kungsgård played a central role in the Crown’s control of the silver mine. At the same time, the estate offers rooms in a historic setting for celebrations and indoor and outdoor activities. This place therefore combines its historical significance for the mine with the use of its rooms for gatherings.

Art and Architectural History

The Aguéli Museum in Sala displays the largest collection of works by Ivan Aguéli, including paintings and drawings. It also hosts changing exhibitions of contemporary art. The focus on Aguéli and the contemporary exhibitions thus introduce different art topics within the same museum.

Kristina Church was built of fieldstone and brick in the 17th century and consecrated in 1641. Its interior features a pulpit, an altarpiece and an organ loft front from the 18th century. Ivan Aguéli’s remains lie in the church cemetery, near his birthplace. The building, its furnishings and the cemetery provide different points of reference for local church and cultural history.

Sala Sockenkyrka is a fieldstone church probably built in the 14th century. Its brick vaults were painted by Albertus Pictor, and the paintings are dated to around 1465–1470. The altarpiece also points to a particular art-historical connection: it comes from the workshop of Master Pasquier Borman in Brussels and is dated to around 1520. These approximate dates remain estimates.

Another building from a later period is Sala’s former varmbadhus (public bathhouse). It was built in the 1920s and is considered a good example of Neoclassical architecture. In 1988, the building was designated a listed building. Together with the churches, it offers a way to explore Sala’s architectural history through buildings from different centuries.

Trails Along the Waterways

Around Ekeby dammar in Sala’s town park, there is a walking trail that passes many white bridges. The ponds were originally formed by the flow of water from Långforsen and later by an outlet channel from the mine. Fishing at Ekeby dammar is free, except for carp fishing.

Sala kanal is a combined walking and cycling trail between the centre of Sala and Sala Silvergruva. It is 2.5 kilometres each way and 5 kilometres there and back; the entire route is paved and illuminated throughout. These figures make it easy to compare the two distances: the one-way route is half the there-and-back distance.

Gröna gången starts at Ekeby dammar in the centre, runs along Mellandammen and Lake Långforsen, and follows the waterways and the dams built for the Sala Silvergruva water system. At Järndammen, the trail joins Gruvdammsrundan. This trail starts at the water system’s outlet in Sala and heads upstream towards the Järndammen area. The stated starting points and directions help distinguish the trails: Sala kanal connects the centre with the mine, while Gröna gången and Gruvdammsrundan follow their respective routes along the water system.

Discover more destinations: Västerfärnebo, Broddbo, Salbohed, Möklinta.

Go to the main travel overview: Sala.