Balkåkra Church Ruins

Ystad, Sweden

Balkåkra stone church was built around 1200. It was abandoned in 1867 when Marsvinholm church was completed. The restoration was done in the 20th century. Today it is occasionally used for worship services.

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Address

Balkåkravägen 227, Ystad, Sweden
See all sites in Ystad

Details

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

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

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User Reviews

Diana & Rune Quipus Kennel (2 years ago)
Mycket vacker plats!
Andris Mednis (2 years ago)
Sevärdheter Skåne (3 years ago)
Balkåkra kyrka är en romansk stenkyrka från ca 1200 med ett kraftigt västtorn från senmedeltiden. Kyrkan övergavs 1867, då Marsvinsholms kyrka, gemensam för Balkåkra, Snårestad och Skårby, invigdes. Bakgrunden är följande:År 1773 fick Ebba Christina Siöblad på Marsvinsholm patronatsrätten till Balkåkra och Snårestad. (Hennes initialer E C S finns f.ö. på kyrkoruinens torn.) Vid hennes död övergick patronatsrätten till sonen Eric Ruuth, den mäktige industriman som blev Sveriges finansminister. Han anhöll hos Kungl. Maj:t om patronatsrätten också till Skårby och planerade att ersätta de tre dåligt underhållna kyrkorna med en ny stor gemensam kyrka. Hans ansökan bifölls 1787, men Eric Ruuth kom på obestånd och den nya kyrkan, Marsvinsholm, började inte byggas förrän 1862 och invigdes 1867. Eric Ruuth dog 1820 och begravdes i det ”Ruuthska gravkoret” bland forna ägare till Marsvinsholm.År 1892 murades valvet igen och kyrkan lämnades att förfalla. Inventarierna skingrades på olika håll. Den magnifika predikstolen signerad AS – en skicklig men till namnet okänd bildhuggare benämnd Borsöemästaren – står numera i Vallösa kyrka. Altaruppsatsen och apostlabilderna uthuggna i trä finns på Historiska museet i Lund.Koret, som har sitt medeltida valv kvar, restaurerades 1916. Ombyggnaden bekostades av Höganäsverket för att hedra Eric Ruuths minne. Denna restaurering har utan tvekan bidragit till att räddat själva ruinen. Under 1800-talet revs nämligen många av de medeltida kyrkorna.Den välbevarade ruinen konserverades 1929 med hjälp av frivilliga medel. Tornet belades med gammalt tegel, mittskeppets långsidor återuppfördes i någon mån och drogs fram till gravkoret. Tornets bottenvåning fick nytt golv och portalerna i söder och norr återupptogs. Samma år hölls ”en stämningsfull högtidlighet” inne i ödekyrkan, berättas det.Den senaste restaureringen skedde 1966, då målningarna i koret konserverades.
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