Details
Founded: c. 1200Category: Religious sites in Sweden
Historical period: Consolidation (Sweden)
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The nave and tower are the oldest parts of the church in Lummelunda. They were both erected circa 1200. Originally, a choir built at the same time formed part of the church. This choir was razed in the middle of the 14th century, and the presently, disproportionally large choir was built instead. The rebuilding of the choir was intended as the beginning of a complete reconstruction scheme, but only the choir was executed. The church has remained largely unaltered since then. The sacristy is of unknown date, mentioned for the first time in 1739, and the church spire dates from 1636. During the 17th century, new windows were added to the nave, it received new furnishings and was re-decorated inside. The windows were again altered during the 19th century.
Architecturally, the church is characterised externally by the large Gothic choir and the much smaller Romanesque nave and tower. It is built in limestone. The main, southern portal is decorated with stone sculptures similar to those of Martebo Church, but somewhat cruder in execution. Internally, the church is decorated with frescos. Of these, some date from the construction period of the church, some from the 15th century and some from the 17th century. The church houses a single, rather worn late medieval wooden sculpture depicting Saint Anthony. Most other furnishings are from the 17th century.
References:Roman Walls of Lugo are an exceptional architectural, archaeological and constructive legacy of Roman engineering, dating from the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. The Walls are built of internal and external stone facings of slate with some granite, with a core filling of a conglomerate of slate slabs and worked stone pieces from Roman buildings, interlocked with lime mortar.
Their total length of 2117 m in the shape of an oblong rectangle occupies an area of 1.68 ha. Their height varies between 8 and 10 m, with a width of 4.2 m, reaching 7 m in some specific points. The walls still contain 85 external towers, 10 gates (five of which are original and five that were opened in modern times), four staircases and two ramps providing access to the walkway along the top of the walls, one of which is internal and the other external. Each tower contained access stairs leading from the intervallum to the wall walk of town wall, of which a total of 21 have been discovered to date.
The defences of Lugo are the most complete and best preserved example of Roman military architecture in the Western Roman Empire.
Despite the renovation work carried out, the walls conserve their original layout and the construction features associated with their defensive purpose, with walls, battlements, towers, fortifications, both modern and original gates and stairways, and a moat.
Since they were built, the walls have defined the layout and growth of the city, which was declared a Historical-Artistic Ensemble in 1973, forming a part of it and becoming an emblematic structure that can be freely accessed to walk along. The local inhabitants and visitors alike have used them as an area for enjoyment and as a part of urban life for centuries.
The fortifications were added to UNESCO"s World Heritage List in late 2000 and are a popular tourist attraction.
