Top Historic Sights in Vallentuna, Sweden
Explore the historic highlights of Vallentuna
Vallentuna Church
The original Vallentuna church was built around 1190. The granite church consisted of a nave, choir and tower. The sacristy was added in the 13th century. The church was enlarged in the 15th century and brick vaults were constructed in 1763. The chapel of Klingspor family was built in the 17th century. Vallentuna church was badly damaged by fire in 1856. The church was restored and the exterior was strongly reshaped. The ...Orkesta Church
Orkesta Church in Vallentuna was built in the late 12th century and the the eastern part of original nave remains. The sacristy and southern nave were added in the 15th century. The round window was added in 1750. The crucifix was carved between 1325-1350. The rococo style pulpit was added during the restoration in 1753. The external wooden belfry was erected in the 17th century. According a legend, King Gustav Vasa of ...Össeby-Garn Church
Össeby-Garn Church is a local parish church, located near the northern tip of Garnsviken. Built in the 13th century (with a porch added in the 15th century), Össeby-Garn Church is a Romanesque stone church typical of Uppland. Two runestones have been placed outside the church, and another has been built into the church floor.Angarn Church
Although Angarn Church probably dates from the 1280s, it lies in a cultural landscape with a much older history. Petroglyphs from the Bronze Age, as well as several significantly later runestones testify to the old traditions of the place. The church was built on a hill next to an inlet of the Baltic Sea (which has subsequently disappeared as a consequence of post-glacial rebound) and thus was strategically located, easy ...Össeby Church Ruins
Össeby church was built in the 1200s and was a medieval parish church. In 1856 it was hit by lightning, which destroyed the roof.Kårsta Church
Kårsta church was built in the 1400s but replaced an older church built of wood. The sacristy is the oldest part and was built during the 1200s. In the Western church gable is a runestone walled 'Alrik erected the stone and make the bridge'. The church is wrapped tightly around Kårsta village"s well preserved buildings. In addition to residential buildings there are two school buildings, one from 1848 an ...Markim Church
Markim is mentioned in written sources for the first time in 1287, but both etymological and archaeological evidence suggest that the cultural landscape surrounding the church is considerably older. The landscape had ancient traditions already during the Middle Ages, when the church was built. The church is situated on a small hill were an earlier, pagan sacrificial well was located. The area is rich in rune stones. The ...Frösunda Church
Frösunda Church was built in the 15th century to the site of older wooden church. The baptismal font of sandstone dates from the late 12th century. The altarpiece dates probably from the 15th century and is carved in Germany. The rococo style pulpit was carved by Magnus Granlund in 1759. The external bell tower was mentioned first time in 1631. There is also a 11th century runestone outside the wall.Vada Church
Vada Church was built around the year 1200. It was damaged by fire in 1404 and 1697 and enlarged after the incidents. The last large restoration was done in 1820-1821. The free-standing external belfry dates from 1640s. Inside the church pulpit dates from the early 1600s and organs from 1852.Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings
Historic Site of the week
Les Invalides
Les Invalides is a complex of buildings containing museums and monuments, all relating to the military history of France, as well as a hospital and a retirement home for war veterans, the building"s original purpose. The buildings house the Musée de l"Armée, the military museum of the Army of France, the Musée des Plans-Reliefs, and the Musée d"Histoire Contemporaine, as well as the burial site for some of France"s war heroes, notably Napoleon Bonaparte.
Louis XIV initiated the project in 1670, as a home and hospital for aged and unwell soldiers: the name is a shortened form of hôpital des invalides. The architect of Les Invalides was Libéral Bruant. The enlarged project was completed in 1676, the river front measured 196 metres and the complex had fifteen courtyards. Jules Hardouin Mansart assisted the aged Bruant, and the chapel was finished in 1679 to Bruant"s designs after the elder architect"s death.
Shortly after the veterans" chapel was completed, Louis XIV commissioned Mansart to construct a separate private royal chapel referred to as the Église du Dôme from its most striking feature. Inspired by St. Peter"s Basilica in Rome, the original for all Baroque domes, it is one of the triumphs of French Baroque architecture. The domed chapel is centrally placed to dominate the court of honour. It was finished in 1708.
Because of its location and significance, the Invalides served as the scene for several key events in French history. On 14 July 1789 it was stormed by Parisian rioters who seized the cannons and muskets stored in its cellars to use against the Bastille later the same day. Napoleon was entombed under the dome of the Invalides with great ceremony in 1840. In December 1894 the degradation of Captain Alfred Dreyfus was held before the main building, while his subsequent rehabilitation ceremony took place in a courtyard of the complex in 1906.
The building retained its primary function of a retirement home and hospital for military veterans until the early twentieth century. In 1872 the musée d"artillerie (Artillery Museum) was located within the building to be joined by the Historical Museum of the Armies in 1896. The two institutions were merged to form the present musée de l"armée in 1905. At the same time the veterans in residence were dispersed to smaller centres outside Paris. The reason was that the adoption of a mainly conscript army, after 1872, meant a substantial reduction in the numbers of veterans having the twenty or more years of military service formerly required to enter the Hôpital des Invalides. The building accordingly became too large for its original purpose. The modern complex does however still include the facilities detailed below for about a hundred elderly or incapacitated former soldiers.