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
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Details

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

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


St. Mary's Church (6,8 km)
Ystad Abbey (6,8 km)
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Christinehof Castle (33,8 km)
Stora Herrestad Church (10,4 km)

User Reviews

Diana & Rune Quipus Kennel (4 years ago)
Mycket vacker plats!
Andris Mednis (4 years ago)
Sevärdheter Skåne (5 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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Lorca Castle

Castle of Lorca (Castillo de Lorca) is a fortress of medieval origin constructed between the 9th and 15th centuries. It consists of a series of defensive structures that, during the Middle Ages, made the town and the fortress an impregnable point in the southeast part of the Iberian Peninsula. Lorca Castle was a key strategic point of contention between Christians and Muslims during the Reconquista.

Archaeological excavations have revealed that the site of the castle has been inhabited since Neolithic times.

Muslim Era

It has not been determined exactly when a castle or fortress was first built on the hill. The first written documentation referring to a castle at Lorca is of Muslim origin, which in the 9th century, indicates that the city of Lurqa was an important town in the area ruled by Theudimer (Tudmir). During Muslim rule, Lorca Castle was an impregnable fortress and its interior was divided into two sections by the Espaldón Wall. In the western part, there was an area used to protect livestock and grain in times of danger. The eastern part had a neighbourhood called the barrio de Alcalá.

After Reconquista

Lorca was conquered by the Castilian Infante Don Alfonso, the future Alfonso X, in 1244, and the fortress became a key defensive point against the Kingdom of Granada. For 250 years, Lorca Castle was a watchpoint on the border between the Christian kingdom of Murcia and the Muslim state of Granada.

Alfonso X ordered the construction of the towers known as the Alfonsina and Espolón Towers, and strengthened and fixed the walls. Hardly a trace of the Muslim fortress remained due to this reconstruction. Muslim traces remain in the foundation stones and the wall known as the muro del Espaldón.

The Jewish Quarter was found within the alcazaba, the Moorish fortification, separated from the rest of the city by its walls. The physical separation had the purpose of protecting the Jewish people in the town from harm, but also had the result of keeping Christians and Jews separate, with the Christians inhabiting the lower part of town.

The remains of the Jewish Quarter extended over an area of 5,700 square m, and 12 homes and a synagogue have been found; the synagogue dates from the 14th century and is the only one found in the Murcia. The streets of the town had an irregular layout, adapted to the landscape, and is divided into four terraces. The synagogue was in the central location, and around it were the homes. The homes were of rectangular shape, with various compartmentalized rooms. The living quarters were elevated and a common feature was benches attached to the walls, kitchens, stand for earthenware jars, or cupboards.

Modern history

With the disappearance of the frontier after the conquest of Granada in 1492, Lorca Castle no longer became as important as before. With the expulsion of the Jews by order of Ferdinand and Isabella, Lorca Castle was also depopulated as a result. The castle was abandoned completely, and was almost a complete ruin by the 18th century. In the 19th century, the castle was refurbished due to the War of Spanish Independence. The walls and structures were repaired or modified and its medieval look changed. A battery of cannons was installed, for example, during this time. In 1931 Lorca Castle was declared a National Historic Monument.

Currently, a parador (luxury hotel) has been built within the castle. As a result, archaeological discoveries have been found, including the Jewish Quarter.

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