Mora, Sweden Tourist Attractions

Mora has associations with two very different characters, Gustavus Vasa and the artist Anders Zorn. It was here that the founder of the Swedish state, Gustavus Vasa, called on the men of Dalarna in 1520 to rise against Danish rule. He is commemorated by the Vasa Run (Vasaloppet), the longest cross-country ski race in the world, held every year at the beginning of March. The Vasaloppsmuseum in the Sports Club tells the story of the race. On Klocksgropsbacken can be seen the Vasa Monument, a statue of Gustavus Vasa by Anders Zorn.

Anders Zorn (1860-1920) - painter, etcher and sculptor - was Mora's most famous son. The Zorn Collections, presented to the town by Anders and Emma Zorn, comprise the Zorn Museum, the Zorngård, Zorns Gammelgård and Gopsmor, the artist's "painting room" (open only in summer). The Zorn Museum shows a selection of Zorn's work, including watercolors, oil paintings, sculpture and graphic art. In the grounds of the museum is the Zorngård, the artist's house and studio, with turn-of-the-century furniture and furnishings.

Zorns Gammelgård, on the outskirts of Mora, gives a comprehensive view of the old popular culture of Mora and the surrounding area. It is an open-air museum of some 40 houses and farmsteads, with old furniture and equipment, illustrating the development of the local style of timber architecture.

A bridge from Mora leads on to the island of Sollerö (good fishing and swimming; golf course). On the island is Bengtsarvet, a large cemetery area of the Viking period, with 123 burials.

Southeast of Mora, on the shores of Lake Siljan, is Nusnäs, where visitors can watch the making of the little horses of Dalarna.

An attractive trip, within easy reach of Mora, is to the Gesundaberg (501m/1,644ft; cableway), from the top of which there are extensive views. Nearby is the interesting Siljanfors Forest Museum, an open-air museum illustrating the development of forestry in the region.

North of Mora is the Orsasjö (alt. 161m/528ft; area 56sq.km/22sq.mi; greatest depth 97m/320ft), on the northern shore of which are Våmhus (basketwork demonstrations in Lissolbakken) and Orsa.

See a well-preserved blast furnace, the remains of a bessemer works and cooling canals dating from the 1700's. There is an open air museum where you can walk around and see the workers' living quarters, charcoal kiln, tar-valley, etc. which were so important at that time. There are also two exhibition halls with a display of various forestry tools such as chainsaws, planting-tools etc.