Galtströms Bruk (aka mill)

The Galstroms processing facility started in 1672 and ran until 1918

Thursday, Lottie took me to an old fishing village, Satan, and the oldest iron ore processing facility in Sweden, the first, largest and ironworks – 1672 – 1918 – Galtströms Bruk.  These were just south of Sundsvall all on the coast.  After we even went to Oxsand which had a lovely beach where we worshipped the sun.

The lovely fishing village of Satan which is more of a summer resort area now - however they still catch and smoke fish

First Satan.  This little fishing village is now used more as a summer resort and there is a lovely restaurant and a store that sells fresh and smoked fish.  I bought a kilo of smoked salmon to thank Lottie and Mike for their hospitality.  Yummy stuff.  I miss having smoked salmon so readily available.  A man was smoking salmon and trout in this large oven using Alder for the wood/flavour.

The fish smoking operation

Satan’s buildings have that common red colouring you see all around Sweden.  I asked Lottie about that.  It is a deep red paint that originated from a copper mine in Falun.  The traditional colour remains popular today due to its effectiveness in preserving wood.  The binder is starch so it is permeable to water.  It started being used in the 1600s and moved to being used in the countryside in the 1800s.   The red paint was the cheapest so noble buildings were painted other colours.  Personally, I really like the red and it is still very distinctive as you travel throughout Sweden.

One of the ovens at the restored and protected facility

So then off we went to Galtstrom which was really interesting.  Lottie acted as my translator reading all the signs telling of the facility’s history and processes.  It was really very interesting and fascinating.  But most of all I was also interested in the stone construction which seems to be of stones that had a semi-precious characteristic about them – almost jade or turquoise.  Earlier buildings had been burned by the Russions in the 1700s.

The door to the workshop where the iron would be poured into moulds to make stoves, building materials, waffle irons and other interesting items such as these

The facility is now protected by the current owners so that its heritage can be shared.  It was a very peaceful and interesting place.  It made me realize how little I know of Swedish history.  So to wrap up our day, we headed to Oxsand to the beach where only a small group of other Swedish people were relaxing.  The summer is short up here so the Swedish people become sun worshippers for a period of time.  The ocean is colder than what I have had the opportunity to enjoy to date but I went in it regardless because the sun was certainly hot.

A little artistic shot - I don't know why it was pink

Sun worshipping