Religious sites in Sweden
Eskelhem Church
Eskelhem Church was preceded by a wooden church, of which nothing remains. Circa 1200 it was replaced by a stone church. The walls of the nave of the present church are all that remains of this edifice. The church was successively enlarged and rebuilt until it received its present form in the middle of the 14th century. Internally, the church is decorated with different sets of frescos, dating from the end of the 13th ce ...
Founded: 1200 |
Location:
Eskelhem, Sweden
Levide Church
Levide Church is a largely Romanesque church of a character unique for the countryside of Gotland. Parts of the choir, notably the area around the portal, is however comparable to the northern portal of Visby Cathedral in Visby, the main town of the island. The oldest parts of the church are the aforementioned choir with its apse, dating from the late 12th century. The nave dates from the early 13th century while the tow ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Levide, 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
Gärdslösa Church
The Gärdslösa church is the best preserved medieval church on Öland. The western part of the nave as well as the slightly younger western tower was built during the 12th century and the transept was added around 1240. The main restoration was done in 1845. There is a votive ship of the Swedish Riksnyckeln, which was blasted in a battle between the Danish and Swedish navies in the Kalmar Strait in 1679. On ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Borgholm, Öland, Sweden
Skånela Church
The church of Skånela was built in the 1160’s. It was probably designed by the same German architect who designed also Lund Cathedral. The sacristy and north side chapel were added in the 14th century and the church was again enlarged in the 15th century. Skånela church was damaged by fire in 1642 and 1806. The mural paintings inside the church date from the 1300’s. The wooden sculpture of Madonna ...
Founded: 1160's |
Location:
Sigtuna, Sweden
Västra Sallerup Church
The church Västra Sallerup, built in the late 12th century, is famous of its medieval frescoes. The fresco of Queen Margrethe I has been used on a Danish stamp. The beautiful pulpit is made by Jakob Kremberg, who lived in Lund between 1596-1641. To west of the church is a former vicarage built in 1867-1868.
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Eslöv, Sweden
Medelplana Church
The oldest parts of the Medelplana church date from the 1100s, with the tower added in the 1300s and the choir and armory coming later. At one time the church may have been dedicated to St. Helena (Elin) of Skövde and Götene. What is believed to be St. Helena's altar is currently the baptismal altar. In the village as it was in the middle ages, there was also a St. Helena's spring, which was later excavated and ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Hällekis, Sweden
St. Olaf's Church
The medieval church of St. Olaf (Sankt Olofs Kyrka) was built originally in the 12th century. The nave was enlarged to west in the mid-1200s and the present western tower was added later. The church is a well-preserved sample of medieval architecture.
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Falköping, Sweden
Tosterup Church
Tosterup Church was originally built in the 12th century and rebuilt in 1598. The interior is covered by wall frescoes dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. In the church you will find the gravestone of Tycho Brahe the Elder, the father of the world famous astronomer.
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Tomelilla, Sweden
Skivarp Church
Skivarp Church was made of limestone probably in the 1150s. The vaulting was added in the 15th century and crow-stepped gable date also from the Middle Ages. The interior is decorated with frescoes made around the year 1500. The original medieval font is moved to the historical museum in Lund. The altar wall and pulpit date from the 17th century.
Founded: 1150s |
Location:
Skivarp, Sweden
Hörup Church
Hörup church was built in the 1100s and it was dedicated to St. Anna. The tower and part of the original nave walls have survived. The restoration and enlargement was made in 1848. The most interesting detail inside is the altarpiece painted by Carl Bloch. The font dates from 1100s and the wooden crucifix from the early 1500s. The pulpit was carved in the 17th century by Jacob Kremberg.
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Löderup, Sweden
Mattmar Church
Mattmar Church was built in the 1300s to the site, where before was a wooden stave church from the 11th century. The porch was restored and enlarged in the 18th century. The pulpit dates from 1662 and font was acquired to the church in 1686. There are also several wooden sculptures from the Middle Ages. The external belfry was erected in 1765 and the lychgate dates also from the 18th century.
Founded: 14th century |
Location:
Mattmar, Sweden
Silvåkra Church
The choir of Silvåkra Church dates from the 12th century. Since it has been reconstructed several times. Medieval font and sculpture of Virgin Mary holding Jesus are the oldest items inside the church. The pulpit dates from 1578.
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Veberöd, Sweden
Ytterselö Church
According the legend the first church in Selaön island was built by St. Olaf (Olaf II of Norway) in early 1000s. The current Ytterselö Church dates however from the 1100s. In the late Middle Ages it was changed as a square form hall church with vaults. The funeral chapel of Soop på Mälsåker family was added in 1650. The new choir was completed in 1728. The beautifully carved triptych dates from ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Stallarholmen, Sweden
Fardhem Church
The current Romanesque church in Fardhem was built originally in the late 1100s and it is one of the oldest churches in Gotland. The nave was built in c. 1200 and tower in late 1200s. The sacristy dates from restoration made in 1871-1872. The font pedestal is the oldest inventory in the church, dating from the 1100s. The pulpit was made in 1720 and organs in 1899.
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Hemse, Sweden
Alskog Church
The oldest part of the Alskog church is the nave, dating from the first quarter of the 13th century. It displays an unusual southern portal, decorated with sculptures. Inside, the nave is divided in two parts by two central columns and has a vaulted ceiling. The tower is somewhat later but also from the early 13th century. Its portal show similarities with the tower portal of Visby Cathedral. The much larger choir and ves ...
Founded: 13th century |
Location:
Ljugarn, Sweden
Bygdeå Church
Bygdeå Church was built probably to the site of older wooden church with star vaults in 1539. The belfry was erected in 1818.
Founded: 1539 |
Location:
Bygdeå, Sweden
Faringe Church
Faringe Church was built in the around 1500 to the site of older church. The interior is decorated around 1515 by local artist. The sacristy was added in 1755. The external belfry was erected in 1668.
Founded: c. 1500 |
Location:
Uppsala, Sweden
Näs Church
Näs church was built in the middle of the 13th century, and remains today largely unchanged. The interior was changed during a renovation made in 1910, and according to tradition the tower was originally higher. However, few of the original furnishings have survived. The altarpiece dates from 1692, and made in Burgsvik, while the pulpit is from the middle of the 18th century. The triumphal cross is a copy of a medieval ...
Founded: 13th century |
Location:
Näs, Sweden
Sproge Church
The presently visible stone church at Sproge dates from the 13th century. The nave and choir are the oldest parts of the church, built during the first half of the century. The tower was added at the end of the same century. On the south facade of the church there is a plaque claiming the construction date of the church to be 1058, but this date appears to be pure fantasy. The church however had a wooden predecessor, a st ...
Founded: 13th century |
Location:
Sproge, Sweden