St. Mary's Church

St. Mary’s Church (Sankta Maria kyrka) is the oldest building in Ystad. The construction was began around the year 1200. The Romanesque style church was enlarged in the 1400s. The tower collapsed in a storm in 1648 when the nave was also damaged. The church was restored to double size.

There is a big altarpiece made of oak in the early 1400s and two medieval crucifixes. The pulpit is a great sample of Scanian Baroque style.

There is a tradition of night watch guardi watching over in the church tower. The tradition began in mid-1700s and is still alive. His duty is to blow the horn four times per night.

References:

• Marianne Mehling et al. Knaurs Kulturführer in Farbe. Schweden. München 1987.
• Wikipedia

Address

Stortorget 16-18, Ystad, Sweden

Details

Founded: ca. 1200
Category: Religious sites in Sweden
Historical period: Consolidation (Sweden)