Røros Mining Town and the Circumference
Røros Mining Town and the Circumference is linked to the
copper mines, established in the 17th century and exploited for 333
years until 1977. The site comprises the Town and its industrial-rural
cultural landscapes; Femundshytta, a smelter with its associated area;
and the Winter Transport Route. Completely rebuilt after its destruction
by Swedish troops in 1679, Røros contains about 2000 wooden one- and
two-storey houses and a smelting house. Many of these buildings have
preserved their blackened wooden façades, giving the town a medieval
appearance. Surrounded by a buffer zone, coincident with the area of
privileges (the Circumference) granted to the mining enterprise by the
Danish-Norwegian Crown (1646), the property illustrates the
establishment and flourishing of a lasting culture based on copper
mining in a remote region with a harsh climate.