Scandinavian Discovery - Falun 19/7

Monday 19^th July

Falun, Sweden

Sigtuna

Sweden’s first town, founded in the 10th century. Small-scale and pedestrian friendly, with charming wooden buildings by Lake Mälaren, less than an hour outside of Stockholm. Good selection of stores, cafés, restaurants and hotels, plus an interesting museum. The district is rich in rune stones, to fascinate history buffs. One toilet in the Tourist Office !!

Uppsala

Silver Bible

The Silver Bible, Codex argenteus - which means the "Silver Book" - is Sweden's most valuable book and one of the world's most famous manuscripts. It was written in Italy at the beginning of the 6th century. The Silver Bible is despite its name not a complete Bible but the four gospels written in the Gothic language. The translation from Greek to Gothic was done in the fourth century by the Gothic Bishop Ulfilas, who also constructed the Gothic alphabet. The Silver Bible was probably copied in Ravenna in the period under the Ostrogoths, and possibly for their King Theoderic the Great, at the beginning of the 6th century. It is written on thin purple coloured vellum of a very high quality in gold and silver ink. The silver script is dominant and has given rise to the term the "silver book","codex argenteus". It was designed to be a work of magnificence, which is possibly hard to understand today. It probably originally had a splendid binding decorated with pearls and gems. The text of the Silver Bible is one of the oldest and most extensive examples of the Gothic language of any document surviving today.

Uppsala was originally located a few kilometres to the north, at a location now known as Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala). Today's Uppsala was then called Östra Aros. (Old) Uppsala was, according to medieval writer Adam of Bremen, the main pagan centre of Sweden, and the Temple at Uppsala contained magnificent idols of the Æsir gods.

As a replacement for the Scandinavian gods, Uppsala was made into a strong Christian centre. A bishop was soon consecrated, and in 1164 Uppsala was made into an archdiocese, with Stefan, a monk from Alvastra Abbey, being consecrated the first Archbishop of Uppsala and primate of Sweden.

The present-day Uppsala was at that time known as Östra Aros and was a port town of Gamla Uppsala. In 1274, Östra Aros overtook Gamla Uppsala as the main regional centre, and when the cathedral of Gamla Uppsala burnt down, the archbishopric was moved to Östra Aros, where the impressive Uppsala Cathedral was erected; it was inaugurated in 1435.

Uppsala is the site of the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. Carolus Linnaeus, one of the renowned scholars of Uppsala University, lived in the city for many years, and both his house and garden can still be visited. Uppsala Cathedral is built in the Gothic style and is one of the largest in northern Europe, with towers reaching 118.70 metres. Uppsala is also the site of the 16th century Uppsala Castle.

Falun

According to legend a billy-goat by the name of Kåre arrived home with his horns stained red after having grazed in copper-rich soil in the woods.

This may well be how the enormous copper deposit was found that over centuries built Falun. We’re not sure when this happened, but there is evidence to support ore-mining as early as 1,000 years ago.
The name Falun probably comes from what is known as the fala (Swedish for pale) stream. During the 14th century, a market place called Falan sprung up on the banks and attracted settlers. Once the ore-mining developed, the town grew, and in 1641 it was granted its town charter by Queen Kristina.

Carl Larsson-gården

The most popular attraction in Falun. Each year the home of the artists Carl and Karin Larsson is visited by 60 000 people from Sweden and overseas. The Carl Larsson home is in itself a work of art, lovingly created by the Larssons. Carl Larsson's paintings now form a major part of the Swedish cultural identity. For Karin, educated at the Stockholm Academy of Art, it was the family home that was the setting for her artistic drive. All the textiles of the house were designed and woven by Karin and she also designed much of the furniture.
The house in itself forms a decorative whole with a harmony of colour, playful carpentry and natural beauty. The interior is a source of inspiration to home lovers and interior designers all over the world.
The Carl Larsson Portrait Collection shows another and less well-known side of Sweden's national artist - he was also an excellent portrait painter. The collection is well worth a detour, according to the Michelin Guide, just like the artist's home itself.

The Journey

Leaving Stockholm, we travel to the old town of Sigtuna for our first stop of the day, after a walk around this delightful town we leave for Uppsala, here we visit the University Library and view the Silver Bible, lunch is next in Uppsala. This afternoon we drive towards the Dalarna Region, a short stop shall be made at Avesta, before continuing on to Sunborn, the home of the Swedish Painter, Carl and Karin Larsson. Later we depart for out hotel, The Scandic