Seven farms in central Sweden were recently added to the prestigious list.
“Hälsingegårdar” on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage
The so-called “Hälsingegårdarna” (Hälsingland farms) have now been added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage. Seven farms were added (situated in four different counties in the province of Hälsingland); they received support from countries like Colombia, South Africa, Switzerland, Japan, Estonia and Senegal. It’s the second time an application went out from Sweden to have the traditional farmhouses added to the prestigious list (the first application was sent in 2009). This time, the application described more clearly what the farms are all about. The Hälsingland farms reflect the rural construction techniques—using only wood as an expression of the popular architecture, the farmer’s way of building as it evolved when means flourished.
Says Barbro Holmberg, county governor of Gävleborg, in a press release: “The declaration that ‘Hälsingegårdarna’ have been put as a World Heritage means they will be preserved for all future.” The farms chosen are Kristofers in Stene, Gästgivars in Vallsta, Jon-Lars and Pallars in Långhed, Fågelsjö gammelgård in Orsa, Bommars in Letsbo and Erik-Anders in Asta.
