The first church was built in Arvidsjaur in 1607, and church-attendance laws (urged by zealous priests and enforced by the monarchy) imposed a certain amount of pew time upon the nomadic Sami. To make their church visits manageable they built small, square cottages with pyramid-shaped roofs (gåhties) for overnighting. Eighty gåhties are preserved here, just across Storgatan from the modern church.
During the last weekend in August, Lappstaden hosts Storstämningshelgen , an annual feast, party and Sami association meeting.
