A summer music venue in an old quarry and 87 wooden stables near a lakeside church make an indelible impression of tradition and innovation in Sweden.
Rättvik is a historic lakeside community with an enchanting town center and a rich folk music tradition. It stands in a great expanse of picturesque terrain, made up of lakes and forests where brown bears roam. Learn about customary Swedish ways of life in this archetypal and old-fashioned settlement.
Postcard-pretty Sweden is typified by the Rättvik Church, whose large white tower overlooks the lake. Admire its medieval frescoes and study the intricate design of the altarpiece. Notice the 87 wooden huts that formerly served as a 15th-century parking lot for horses while parishioners attended church services. Get a perspective of old Sweden via the medieval buildings that were moved in the 1920s to the Rättviks Gammelgård open-air museum.
A little south of the town center is the Rättvik Natural History Museum, where you’ll learn about the region’s plants and animals. Appreciate the spectacular natural surroundings by wandering around the shore of the lake. Stroll along the extended pier near the train station and enjoy the views of the water and woodland.
Relax with a few holes at Rättvik Golf Club. In winter, tackle the slopes of the Rättviksbacken Ski Slope. Combine nature and culture with a journey north to the Dalhalla open-air theater that lies within a former limestone quarry. Choose between the opera, pop music and jazz shows that run from June to September.
Find the town in Dalarna County in the central part of Sweden. It stands on the eastern side of the large Siljan Lake and is located between the towns of Sjurberg and Gärdebyn. While in this part of the country, make sure to visit Mora to see the museum and finishing line of the Vasaloppet cross-country skiing race.
Enclosed by lakes and forests, Rättvik and its quaint town center represent Sweden at its most traditional and appealing.
