Vira bruk, Working life museum in Österåker, Sweden.
Vira bruk is a former iron works facility in Österåker with multiple preserved forges and workshops from different periods. The buildings show how iron production evolved and adapted to new techniques over several centuries.
The site was founded in 1630 and initially specialized in making swords and rapiers for the Swedish army. Later it expanded to produce tools and household items for civilian markets before eventually closing in the 20th century.
The workshops preserve Swedish metalworking traditions through their blacksmith forges and water-powered equipment that still define the character of the site. Visitors can see the same spaces where craftspeople worked across generations.
The museum is mainly open during summer months and offers guided tours plus demonstrations of traditional crafts. You should plan enough time to explore the different workshops at a comfortable pace and watch the craftwork demonstrations.
At its peak, the works produced thousands of military blades per year and was a critical weapons producer for Sweden's wars. This massive output shows how important this small iron works was to Swedish military power.
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