Sandalsand Norge >>
The Røros Mining Town and the Circumference is located high in the mountain plateaus of central Norway. This town boasts a very authentic atmosphere of the 17th to 19th centuries.
The UNESCO World Heritage List includes more than a thousand properties with outstanding universal value. They are all part of the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
Official facts
- Country: Norway
- Date of Inscription: 1980
- Category: Cultural site
UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre’s short description of site no. 55:
“Røros Mining Town and the Circumference is linked to the copper mines, established in the 17th century and exploited for 333 years until 1977. The site comprises the Town and its industrial-rural cultural landscapes; Femundshytta, a smelter with its associated area; and the Winter Transport Route.
Completely rebuilt after its destruction by Swedish troops in 1679, Røros contains about 2000 wooden one- and two-storey houses and a smelting house. Many of these buildings have preserved their blackened wooden façades, giving the town a medieval appearance.
Surrounded by a buffer zone, coincident with the area of privileges (the Circumference) granted to the mining enterprise by the Danish-Norwegian Crown (1646), the property illustrates the establishment and flourishing of a lasting culture based on copper mining in a remote region with a harsh climate.”
My visit
I have spent time in the “Røros Mining Town and the Circumference” both in winter and summer. The town and the surroundings are fascinating irrespective of season. In my own country, Norway, Røros is considered a national gem. Consequently, we are not all surprised that it became one of the first sites in the world on UNESCO’s list.
