Askeby Abbey Church

Askeby, Sweden

Askeby Abbey Church is now a Lutheran parish church. Its oldest part was built during the first half of the 12th century by King Sverker the Elder. Some decades later a convent was added to the church. The first known donations addressed to Askeby Convent are from 1162. The buildings were erected close to a manor, strategically located near the ancient road leading from the Baltic coast to the central parts of the province of Östergötland.

In the 1240s Askeby, like many other convents, was incorporated into the Cistercian order and became important to leading noble families. The buildings were damaged on several occasions, most severely in 1377 by fire. The abbey church, including a parish church, was re-inaugurated in 1418. It had then been enlarged with a new brick chancel in late Gothic style. Bricks were also used for the reconstruction of the convent, inaugurated in 1444 accommodating about twenty nuns. All the buildings were annihilated after the Reformation except for the church, whose tower, however, was destroyed in 1609.

Medieval treasures can still be found in the church, e.g. a triumph crucifix and a pietà. An altar embroidery, now in a museum, can be seen on our website. Years of research have resulted in visualized programs which re-create the abbey itself as well as its environment. These programs are shown in the church in connection with guided tours.

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Details

Founded: 12th century
Category: Religious sites in Sweden
Historical period: Consolidation (Sweden)

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Jimmy Ahlwin (16 months ago)
Ordinary Swedish white church. Nothing special.
Tomas Magnusson (2 years ago)
A historical cultural treasure in Östergötland.
Ulf Arnell (3 years ago)
Beautiful church and pleasant/professional treatment made the baptism a great experience
Hylaeus (3 years ago)
Quiet place just outside the center. Friendly staff
Lars Wittheden (4 years ago)
We were guided and got an interesting story about the history of the church. The church was built in the 12th century and is an unusually tall building. All fixtures include a beautiful altarpieta and a medieval cork crucifix. In the church, which was located right by the main connecting road between Söderköping and Vadstena, there was also a nunnery.
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