Medieval churches in Sweden
Husaby Church
Husaby Church is one of the most interesting historical sites in Sweden. The first stave church was built probably in the 10th century. Olof Skötkonung, the first Christian king of Sweden, is rumoured to have allowed himself to be baptised at a well by the church in 1008. Husaby was also the seat of bishop until 1150s. The present church was built in the early 1100s and influenced by German and English missionaries. ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Götene, Sweden
Ekerö Church
The Romanescue-style church of Ekerö date from the late 12th century. It was enlarged in the 1300s and the tower was erected in the 15th century. The overpainted mural paintings were found in the restoration made in 1933. the altarpiece date from the 17th century. The oldest artefact in the church is a font dating from the 12th century. The interesting detail is a runic script in the tombstone under the pulpit. The ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Ekerö, Sweden
Skara Cathedral
Skara Cathedral is the seat for the bishop of the Church of Sweden Diocese of Skara. It is also one the largest churches in Sweden. The history of cathedral is traced from the 11th century and it was inaugurated as a cathedral around 1150. The current appearance is from the 13th century. The current Gothic design dates to the 1886-1894 restoration under the leadership of architect Helgo Zettervall. The furnishings are uni ...
Founded: 11th century |
Location:
Skara, Sweden
Sollentuna Church
Sollentuna Church originates from the late 1100s but it has been restored and enlarged several times. The current appearance dates from the 1600s. In 1560 remnants of Gustav Vasa and his two wives were held in Sollentuna church on the way to funeral in Uppsala Cathedral. The interior is decorated with murals by famous Albertus Pictor school in the late 1400s. The thurible dates from the 1200s and font was made in Gotland ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Sollentuna, Sweden
Västra Tunhem Church
The oldest parts of Västa Tunhem Church date from the 12th century, but it has been rebuilt several times. It was enlarged in the 15th century and again in 1736-1740. The current tower was added in 1810. The font dates from the 13th century and pulpit from 1654. The altar and roof paintings were made in 1740-1755.
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Västra Tunhem, Sweden
Håby Church
Håby church originates from the 12th century and it had probably only a square nave. Later it was enlarged and the tower was added in 1869. The exterior appearance dates mainly from the 18th century. The wooden font was made in 1647, pulpit in 1650 and altar 1939.
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Munkedal, Sweden
Björlanda Church
The Björlanda Church is a medieval church built in the 13th and 14th centuries. It was inaugurated, according to the Icelandic skald Eysteinn Ásgrímsson, on a 15 July; the year of the inauguration is not known. The building has been renovated and extended numerous times. Additional windows were installed in the 17th century. In 1734, the medieval choir was torn down. The renovation works of 1936 resulte ...
Founded: 13th century |
Location:
Torslanda, Sweden
Rättvik Church
Rättvik Church dates from c. 1300. It has been enlarged several times and its present shape is from 1793. The church contains some fascinating old inventory like a triumphal crucifix believed to have been made in Germany in the 14th century. There are also medieval frescoes depicting St. Olav and St. Stephen. The altarpiece depicting the Resurrection of Christ was made in the 17th century as well as the pulpit. Arou ...
Founded: c. 1300 |
Location:
Rättvik, Sweden
Bäl Church
The current Bäl church was built during the first half of the 13th century and replaced an earlier stone church on the same site, fragments of which still remain in the wall between the choir and nave. Of the presently visible church, the choir is the oldest part, with the nave and tower being built successively. Paintings were added in the 13th century through 15th centuries. For some reason, the tower was never finishe ...
Founded: 13th century |
Location:
Bäl, Sweden
Danmark Church
The first written record of church in Danmark locality date back to the year 1291. Close to the church are several stones with a Christian text and cross inscribed. The oldest parts of the present red-brick church are from the 1300s. In the late 1400s the church was enlarged to the appearance it has today. The church has been modified both internally and externally several times, among other things after the fires in 1699 ...
Founded: 14th century |
Location:
Uppsala, Sweden
Torslanda Church
The medieval Torslanda Church is one of the oldest churches on Hisingen and in the whole city, as the oldest part of the building, the nave is estimated to have been erected in the 12th century. The porch was added in 1766; the choir in 1780 and the sacristy in 1806. Some of the interior of the church is also notable. There are two baptismal fonts - one made of stone, dating back to the 13th century, and a wooden one fro ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Torslanda, Sweden
Vänge Church
The Romanesque church tower is the oldest part of the church. It was built circa 1200. Originally it was attached to a Romanesque church, the nave and choir of which however was replaced with the presently visible Gothic parts at the end of the 13th century. The sacristy is the only non-medieval part of the church; it was built in 1866. The exterior of the church is decorated with Romanesque reliefs, re-used from the earl ...
Founded: c. 1200 |
Location:
Vänge, Sweden
Abild Church
The oldest parts of Abild Church were built in the 12th and 13th century. It is said to previously have had the name Saint John's church after John the Baptist. Most of the inventories are from the 17th century, during which the church was prolonged to the east. The church was painted in 1767. These paintings were later covered by new paintings, until they were restored in 1953. The church has been refurbished in 1927 and ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Falkenberg, Sweden
Bro Church
The original church in Bro was built in the 13th century, but it was largely restored in 1699 and 1937. The ceilings were painted by Christian von Schönfeldt. The altar and font date from the end of the 17th century and pulpit from 1722.
Founded: 13th century |
Location:
Brastad, Sweden
Äspö Church
Äspö Church was built around 1200. It was much smaller than the current church reconstructed in the 19th and 20th centuries. The original nave is however survived. The tower was added in 1854. There are two original mural paintings survived, made by so-called Everlöv Master in the second half of 1400s. The triumph crucifix dates from c. 1400 and pulpit from 1598.
Founded: c. 1200 |
Location:
Trelleborg, Sweden
Danderyd Church
The sacristy and the northeast side of the Danderyd Church were built around 1400. The current appearance dates mainly from the restoration made in 1600s. The church has a strong relation to Baner noble family, who owned the church lands and the near Djursholm Castle for centuries. There are two grave of Baner family in the church and the pulpit (1628) and altar (1707) are donated by them. Among other inventory there are ...
Founded: c. 1400 |
Location:
Danderyd, Sweden
Levene Church
Leven Church was built in the 11th century as a manor chapel for the near Levene manor. It was enlarged in the 1600s by J. H. Reuter. The font and small bell date from the original church. Levene church has royal connections. Three sisters of King Carl Gustav were confirmed at this church. Governor Johan Hindrikson Reyter greatly assisted the expansion of the church in the 17th century and had a family crypt built. The c ...
Founded: 11th century |
Location:
Stora Levene, Sweden
Värmdö Church
Värmdö Church from the 14th century was originally dedicated to St. Olaf. The parish was first mentioned in 1314 and the church in 1323. The construction was probably supported and donated by Fleming family. The church has been enlarged several times and called also as 'cathedral of archipelago'. The belfry was completed in 1809 and is third one on the site. The crucifix dates from the 14th century an ...
Founded: c. 1323 |
Location:
Värmdö, Sweden
Båstad Church
The Church of Båstad, Saint Mary’s Church was constructed in the 15th century. The building started around the year 1450 and it was completed in the early 1500s. The inauguration was made in 1460. Båstad Church is a Romanesque church, and contains several wall paintings from various centuries; a madonna image; and a Danish altarpiece, among other things.
Founded: 15th century |
Location:
Båstad, Sweden
Bro Church
The first church in Bro was built during the 12th century in Romanescue style. The next church was completed in 1236 and it represented the Gothic style. In the reconstruction around 1300 the nave was demolished and replaced with the present one. In the Middle Ages Bro church was a destination for pilgrimages, because very important relic, an “original” piece of Jesus Christ’s cross was kept there. The p ...
Founded: 1236 |
Location:
Visby, Sweden