The Fine Side 13 - Kristine kyrka och lurgummorna

You have now arrived at stop 13 of the Children's Tour, "The Fine Side." Look at this grand and beautiful church. It's called Kristine Church and is named after Queen Kristina. Her father, Gustav II Adolf, was out in Europe fighting battles. He loved Falun Copper Mine. He called it his treasure chest.

Kristina was only six years old when her father, the king, died in a battle. But it was she who ensured that Falun was granted the right to be called a city in 1641. Look up at the tall tower. Of course, it has a copper roof. Copper changes color over time. First, it is orange-red, then it becomes increasingly green. They say that copper tarnishes. In that tower, women sat and kept watch. They were called "lurgummor" or "tornkärringar," and they kept a lookout for fires during the nights. They climbed up the stairs inside the tower at eight o'clock in the evening, guarded throughout the night, and climbed down at five o'clock in the morning. They each had a horn that they blew every quarter hour, and if they saw a fire starting in the town, they rang the church bells. By counting the bell tolls, people knew where the fire was. "Go inside the church, and you'll see how beautifully blue and golden it is on the inside. It is open every day." This city tour is funded by Tillväxtverket.