The Meaning of the Red Houses in Sweden

The little red houses around Stockholm are painted with a special paint called Falu red, or Falun red, which was first created and used in Falun copper mines in Dalarna County. It is well known for its use on wooden cottages and barns. This paint is now used out of tradition and due to its effectiveness in preserving wood. The earliest signs of the use of Falu red are the 16th century, but during the 17th century the paint started to fill an additional purpose. The copper color was supposed to imitate the brick buildings, which were more common in the south of Sweden as well as Stockholm and Gothenburg. 

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