48km (30 miles) W of Falun, 18km (11 miles) S of Rättvik, 267km (166 miles) NW of Stockholm

No less an authority than Hans Christian Andersen found Leksands Noret -- the doorway to Lake Siljan -- idyllic. Leksand in its present form dates from the early 1900s, when it was reconstructed following a fire that razed the community. However, some type of settlement has existed on this site since pagan times.

Many of the province's old traditions still flourish here. Women occasionally don traditional dress for church on Sunday, and in June and July the long "church boats" from Viking times may cross the lake carrying parishioners to church. These same boats compete in a church-boat race on the first Sunday in July. Since World War II, a miracle play, The Road to Heaven, has been presented here in open-air performances, providing an insight into the customs and folklore of Dalarna. The play runs for 10 days at the end of July.