Kyrkogatan, hamn & hembygdsgård

Church street, harbour & homestead museum

A cultural corridor in Smedjebacken. A local heritage farm, a church, and two art museums – Arkivhuset and Meken.

Kyrkogatan was originally part of the road from the Mälaren Valley to Stora Tuna, Falun, and Säter. When the church was built in the 15th century, a small mining village was located there. Just north of today’s Meken art museum, this main road met the road from Västerdalarna. The three-way junction became a gathering place and marketplace known as Smidies-backen. From this crossroads, settlement gradually spread as merchants, burghers and craftsmen moved in. During the 18th century, trade expanded, and at the same time the Strömsholm Canal was opened. This led to further establishments of merchants and other entrepreneurs. Kyrkogatan and the harbour became a lively centre for goods and commerce. By the mid-18th century, the bailiff moved to Smedjebacken, whose primary task was to collect taxes and fees.

In the mid-19th century, Smedjebacken’s rolling mill was established, Morgårdshammar’s industrial works expanded, and the Wessman–Barken railway towards Ludvika was opened as an extension of the Strömsholm Canal.

Kyrkogatan (Church street) came to connect Smidies-backen, the harbour, and the church village. The result was dense development with shops, housing, a fire station, and industrial buildings associated with the rolling mill, as well as railway and harbour facilities.

The engine shed with locomotives and wagons still remains in the harbour, along with two iron storehouses and a harbour warehouse that houses a small canal museum. There is also a harbour office, a summer restaurant, leisure boats, and steamships that operate tours along the canal.

Follow Kyrkogatan past the Arkivhuset art museum and the church to the Norrbärke local heritage farm, and explore the area and the rest of the traditional mining settlement. Or follow the street towards the rolling mill to see the old industrial buildings and Meken, the rolling mill’s former mechanical workshop.

Norrbärke hembygdsgårds facebook (Swedish only)

Konsthallen Meken (Swedish only)

Barkens ångbåtar (Swedish only)

Arkivhuset (Swedish only)