Ornässtugan in English

Ornässtugan, Sweden's most famous timber building, is situated in Borlänge. The museum of Ornässtugan displays the same exhibition now as when it first opened in 1758. That makes the exhibition the world´s oldest, preserved exhibition open to the public, in its original building.

Ornässtugan 

Beautifully positioned on lake Runn between Borlänge and Falun, Ornässtugan is still in its original location. The impressive building was built by a wealthy mine owner in the early 16th century. The lower section of the building served as storage and the upper as a guesthouse. The loft has many exciting traits of past folklore that you can still see today.

The most famous visitor at Ornässtugan was Gustav Eriksson Vasa who visited Ornässtugan in 1520. He was then on the run from Danish Union King Kristian II. The visit ended with Gustav fleeing through Ornässtugan’s outhouse with the help of Barbro Stigsdotter. Gustav wanted to start a rebellion with the help of Dalarna and the young Gustav's Dala adventure and the way he achieved the Swedish throne, are stories that have been told in Ornässtugan for 500 years - a tradition we are proud to manage and to further tell to today's visitors. The museum opened already in 1758 and is the second oldest museum in Sweden.

The Service Building

The architect-designed café, with both outdoor and indoor seating, also have a small museum shop. All baked pastries are made in the café and there are also excellent choices for gluten, milk and egg intolerant people. Please notice that we need group bookings (15 or more) to the café at least 14 days in advance.

The Basement

The basement has two vaulted rooms with gravel flooring. The cellar is one of the oldest medieval vaults left in Dalarna and can be hired by private individuals. In the left-hand room there are tables and benches with seating for 18 adults. The right-hand vault is unfurnished and suitable for mingling, ceremonies and more. The rent is 500 kr for two hours. Contact the Ornässtugan Manager to book.

Nature

Ornässtugan is located on a peninsula in Ösjön. The area has large open lawn areas suitable for picnics and other activities. An avenue of beautiful 300 year old oaks leads the visitor from the parking lot to Ornässtugan. In addition, there are four lindens planted 400 years ago. Below the caretaker's dwelling there is a large boat pier where churchboats, steam boats and pleasure boats can anchor. During the winter, wide-range ice skating tracks are plowed on the ice around Ornässtugan.

Sustainability

Humility in being part of a 500-year-old cultural heritage fosters a natural sense of working with sustainability. We get to enjoy the place today, respect our predecessors, and leave Ornässtugan in the same condition for future visitors and generations.

The museum exhibition, which opened as early as 1758, is the world’s oldest preserved in its original building. The medieval building is carefully maintained by the National Property Board of Sweden (SFV), which manages important buildings in the country. The wooden shingle roof must be replaced every fifty years and is protected in the meantime with tar, which also provides visitors with an interesting olfactory experience. The timber logs of the facades, cut in the winter of 1503, have been protected since the 18th century with local Falu red paint made from natural pigments from the Falu Coppermine. A portion of the area is preserved as meadows to promote biodiversity.

Borlänge Municipality, which operates Ornässtugan, is actively working on an environmental strategy to become climate neutral by 2030. The municipality has three main priorities:

• Strengthen biodiversity
• Combat climate change
• Create a circular economy

The café at Ornässtugan focuses on sustainability by minimizing food waste, where we, for example, offer yesterday's bread at half price. Guests are served on porcelain, which reduces the use of disposable materials. Furthermore, there is a station where guests can refill their water bottles for free or choose to drink water with their light lunch. The café cooperates with a local coffee roastery that offers the highest quality traceable and freshly roasted artisan coffee. Customers can also purchase coffee bags to take home from our shop.

All pastries in the café are baked on-site, and the café also has a popular selection of pastries free from gluten, milk proteins, and eggs. The ice cream served in the café is organic and certified by KRAV.

The café building at Ornässtugan has recently been renovated internally, with sustainable goals in mind. All wooden materials, such as countertops and wall panels, were reused by being adapted and relocated.

"The local community, school classes, and organizations are offered a pleasant meeting place at Ornässtugan for recreation and socializing. On certain days, it is possible to reach the destination by bus from both Falun and Borlänge, followed by a short ten-minute walk to Ornässtugan along the shoreline of Ösjön.

Ornäs Birch

The first “Ornäs birch” was discovered in “little Ornäs” in 1767 by Hans Gustaf Hiort, later knighted to “Hiort of Ornäs". He was also a descendant of Barbro Stigsdotter who helped Gustav Vasa. Pictures of the tree were cataloged by the botanist Carl von Linné and received the Latin name “Betula pendula Dalecarlica.”

Ornäs birch is a mutation and can only be propagated by grafting. The Ornäs birch is often used as a park tree, thanks to its special leaves and sterile traits. The Ornäs birch is appointed Sweden's national tree.

Directions

Ornässtugan is located between Borlänge and Falun. To get to Ornässtugan from Borlänge, take the E16 towards Falun and exit at Ornäs. Continue a bit parallel to the highway and then in to the village of Ornäs. After the railway crossing turn left and follow that road about 300 meters. After passing a brick building turn right. That road leads out to where Ornässtugan is located.  GPS-coordinates: N 60,5072 E 15,5529

The National Property Board of Sweden External link.

Ornässtugan on Facebook External link.