Decorated Farmhouses of Hälsingland

Hälsingland is home to many large, lavishly decorated, wooden farmhouses representing the pinnacle of a regional timber building tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages. Unique and majestic, in 2012 they received UNESCO World Heritage status.

By Kajsa Norman

There are over a thousand 18th and 19th century timber structures remaining in the province of Hälsingland, many of which are large, decoratively painted, wooden farmhouses and outbuildings. These structures reflect an extraordinary combination of timber building and folk-art traditions, and represent the peak of prosperity for the 19th century independent farmers who built them.

While Hälsingland didn’t have an aristocracy, it had plenty of farmers who owned their own land and forests. They made their fortunes in agriculture, cattle breeding, linen manufacture and trade, as well as the sale of land, lumber, and felling rights. They used their affluence to construct and decorate special farmhouses built for festivities.

In 2012, seven of these buildings were allocated world heritage status: Gästgivars, Kristofers, Pallars, JonLars, Bortom Åa, Bommars and ErikAnders. According to UNESCO:

“The 7 decorated farmhouses of

Hälsingland represent an outstanding collection of farmhouses with more than 1,000 well-preserved farms and about 400 room decorations still in situ. The density of intact preserved decorated rooms is unparalleled...

The farms... are outstanding examples of how independent farmers within a small geographical area combined a highly developed building tradition with a rich folk art tradition in the form of decoratively painted interiors especially for celebrations.

These decorated farms bear witness of a culture that has disappeared today, but whose buildings and interiors with their variations, richness and quality, have been preserved in an exceptional way... and are of outstanding universal value.”

A particularly distinctive feature of these farmhouses is the construction of a separate house, or suites of rooms in the main house, reserved exclusively for festivities. The owners would commission artists from Hälsingland or itinerant painters from neighbouring Dalarna to cover the interiors either with canvas or textile paintings affixed to the walls, or paintings applied directly onto the wooden ceilings or walls. The paintings represent a fusion of folk art with the styles favoured by the aristocracy of the time, such as Baroque and Rococo.

Even though there could be three residential dwellings on each farm, families often lived together in one or two rooms. The additional, extravagantly furnished, painted, and decorated spaces were opened only a few times in the span of a generation. Not even harvest festivals or festive Christmas celebrations were prestigious enough to be held in these chambers. Only truly significant family events, such as weddings, baptisms, and funerals, qualified.

A wedding would last for several days, and no expense was spared. Staff would be hired to bake, decorate, and prepare several months before the festivities. When the big day arrived, fiddlers would greet the hundreds of guests and accompany them to the wedding farmhouse. Because it was important that the building made a great first impression, the entryways were especially beautiful, replete with decorative carpentry and paint.

During the wedding itself, the bride would wear a black dress, bright pearls, silk shawls, paper flowers, and an impressive coronet. The most elaborate wall paintings would mark the place of the newlyweds in the festive hall.

Today, around 50 farmhouses are open to visitors and some even offer overnight stays. Six of the seven world heritage farmhouses are privately owned residences and only open to the public on certain occasions or upon pre-booking. Contact the local tourist offices in Hälsingland or the Decorated Farmhouses of Hälsingland World Heritage Visitor Center in the municipality concerned for more information about current arrangements at each farm.

More information can also be found on: https://destinationhalsingland.se