Vendel Church, Örbyhus, Sweden

The sacristy of Vendel Church was made of brick probably in the late 1200s and it is the oldest still existing part of the church. The current church building was completed around the year 1300. Arches were added in the 1450s and the church was enlarged in the 18th century.

Vende church is well-known of its mural paintings, dating back to the year 1451. They were painted by Johannes Ivan and donated by Agneta Krummedik from the near Örbyhus castle.

In 500-800 AD Vendel was a significant market and cultural centre. Archaelogists have found 14 so-called ship burials from the Vendel churchyard. Noblemen were buried there with their horses and equipments between 550-800 AD. Some foundings are displayed in the church's gate building. The historical era is named as a Vendel period after foundings in Vendel area.

References:

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

User Reviews

Markku Maijala (2 years ago)
Amazingly beautiful church worth a visit.

Hans Bjorkman (2 years ago)
A very nice and beautiful church, both on the outside and inside. Looks so exciting with the bare brick and the beautiful medieval paintings in the church room. Today there was also a multimedia exhibition.

Anna Lantz (3 years ago)
So beautiful. Tyvärr kom vi när de stängde. Vi återkommer för ett längre besök.

Åsa Elmerfeldt (3 years ago)
So beautiful, both inside and out. Located on a hill with a view of Vendelsjön and both the site (Viking graves) and the church have a fantastic history. And the church's paintings tell a lot from the stories of the Bible and are very well preserved!

Margareta Holmgren (3 years ago)
Wonderful church considering that it is located so beautifully, it is worth seeing, was at a wedding and baptism there.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Andy Hay

Historic Site of the week

Argos Theater

The ancient Argos Theater was built in 320 BC. and is located in Argos, Greece against Larissa Hill. Nearby from this site is Agora, Roman Odeon, and the Baths of Argos. The theater is one of the largest architectural developments in Greece and was renovated in ca 120 AD.

The Hellenistic theater at Argos is cut into the hillside of the Larisa, with 90 steps up a steep incline, forming a narrow rectilinear cavea. Among the largest theaters in Greece, it held about 20,000 spectators and is divided by two landings into three horizontal sections. Staircases further divide the cavea into four cunei, corresponding to the tribes of Argos A high wall was erected to prevent unauthorized access into the theatron and may have helped the acoustics, but it is said the sound quality is still very good today.

Around 120 CE, both theaters were renovated in the Roman style.

Vendel Church

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Argos Theater