Vallentuna Church, Vallentuna, Sweden

The original Vallentuna church was built around 1190. The granite church consisted of a nave, choir and tower. The sacristy was added in the 13th century. The church was enlarged in the 15th century and brick vaults were constructed in 1763. The chapel of Klingspor family was built in the 17th century. Vallentuna church was badly damaged by fire in 1856. The church was restored and the exterior was strongly reshaped.

There are several examples of rune carvings in Vallentuna church: stone-cutters who carved their names in runes when the church was being built in the late 12th century, a rune stone telling of a shipwreck mortared into the wall, and one of Jarlabanke’s own rune stones. This last stone must have cracked at some point and new carving was made on the back. On the stone, Jarlabanke tells us that he built an assize place and that he alone made all the decisions in the region. Half of a rune stone stands by the eastern wall of the cemetery.

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Visby Cathedral

Visby Cathedral (also known as St. Mary’s Church) is the only survived medieval church in Visby. It was originally built for German merchants and inaugurated in 1225. Around the year 1350 the church was enlarged and converted into a basilica. The two-storey magazine was also added then above the nave as a warehouse for merchants.

Following the Reformation, the church was transformed into a parish church for the town of Visby. All other churches were abandoned. Shortly after the Reformation, in 1572, Gotland was made into its own Diocese, and the church designated its cathedral.

There is not much left of the original interior. The font is made of local red marble in the 13th century. The pulpit was made in Lübeck in 1684. There are 400 graves under the church floor.

Dmitri Sokolov (3 years ago)
You can go inside and appreciate one of the oldest churches in Sweden.

greger jansson (3 years ago)
Super nice church! Be there at the baptism. That can not be wrong!

Camilla Malmqvist (4 years ago)
Very nice church and an incredibly beautiful cemetery that is well cared for.

Sämir E. Tarcheh (5 years ago)
Such a beautiful place!

Swat5k (6 years ago)
Very nice??

Vallentuna Church

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