{"id":29090,"date":"2024-04-09T12:45:26","date_gmt":"2024-04-09T10:45:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/?post_type=guide&#038;p=29090"},"modified":"2025-04-24T15:16:20","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T13:16:20","slug":"churches","status":"publish","type":"guide","link":"https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/en\/discover\/churches\/","title":{"rendered":"Churches"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"postHerosection postHerosection__wrapper\">\n    <div class=\"postHerosection postHerosection__container\">\n        <h1 class=\"postHerosection postHerosection__heroHeading\">\n            Churches worth visiting        <\/h1>\n            <\/div>\n    <div class=\"postHerosection postHerosection__imageContainer\">\n        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Domkyrkan-Vaxjo-1-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Domkyrkan-Vaxjo-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Domkyrkan-Vaxjo-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Domkyrkan-Vaxjo-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Domkyrkan-Vaxjo-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Domkyrkan-Vaxjo-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Domkyrkan-Vaxjo-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"postHerosection postHerosection__breadcrumbs\">\n   <div class=\"postHerosection postHerosection__breadcrumbs-container\">\n        <p id=\"breadcrumbs\"><span><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/en\/\">Frontpage<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"contentCta contentCta__wrapper\">\n    <div class=\"contentCta contentCta__container\">\n                    \t\t\t<div class=\"contentCta contentCta__text\" style=\"color: \">\n\t\t\t\tSm\u00e5land\u2019s churches represent a large part of the surviving buildings from the Middle Ages and bear witness to developments in church architecture up to the large churches of the 19th century nicknamed \u201cTegn\u00e9r barns\u201d after Esaias Tegn\u00e9r, Bishop of V\u00e4xj\u00f6. Many of the churches contain old and interesting objects. \t\t\t<\/div>\n                <hr>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-visitsmaland-greige-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__wrapper\" style=\"background-color: #f4f2eb\">\n    <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__container layout-reversed\">\n        <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__contentWrapper\">\n            <h2 class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__heading\" style=\"color: #000000\">\n                V\u00e4xj\u00f6 Cathedral            <\/h2>\n            <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__text contentImageTwoColumns__text--short\" style=\"color: #000000\">\n                                    <p>The church thus has roots in the early Middle Ages but was burnt down and renovated several times. Its distinguishing features today are its two tall spires, and its proximity to the Kingdom of Cry&#8230;                    <button type=\"button\" class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__readMoreLess\">\n                        Read more +                    <\/button>\n                            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__text contentImageTwoColumns__text--full\" style=\"color: #000000\">\n                <p>The church thus has roots in the early Middle Ages but was burnt down and renovated several times. Its distinguishing features today are its two tall spires, and its proximity to the Kingdom of Crystal, which means it contains a large quantity of sacred art glassworks. The best known include an altarpiece by Bertil Vallien, a baptismal font by Kjell Engman and a light tree by Erik H\u00f6glund. The cathedral is V\u00e4xj\u00f6\u2019s most popular tourist attraction in terms of visitor numbers.<\/p>\n                <button type=\"button\" class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__readMoreLess\">\n                    Read less &#8211;                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n                <div class=\"wp-block-button arrow-white\">\n                    <a aria-label=\"Read more about V\u00e4xj\u00f6 Cathedral\" class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.svenskakyrkan.se\/vaxjo\/vaxjo-domkyrka-\" style=\"background-color: #374632; color: #ffffff;border: solid 1px #374632\">\n                        Read more about V\u00e4xj\u00f6 Cathedral                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                                <\/div>\n        <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__imageWrapper\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"740\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/smaland-laura-schneider-182-1024x740.jpg\" class=\"attachment-grid-card-images size-grid-card-images\" alt=\"\" \/>        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"dynamicContentTwoColumns dynamicContentTwoColumns__wrapper\">\n    <div class=\"dynamicContentTwoColumns dynamicContentTwoColumns__container\">\n                                    <h3 class=\"dynamicContentTwoColumns dynamicContentTwoColumns__heading\">\n                    The Legend of Saint Sigfrid                <\/h3>\n                                                <div class=\"dynamicContentTwoColumns dynamicContentTwoColumns__text\">\n                    <p><p>A story written down in the 13th century is said to explain why a cathedral came to be built in V\u00e4xj\u00f6. The legend is supposed to have played out in the 11th century and then been described in the latter part of the 12th century. It tells how a holy man travelled from England and came to V\u00e4rend \u2013 one of the \u201csmall lands\u201d that make up the historical province of Sm\u00e5land \u2013 and V\u00e4xj\u00f6 to convert the local population to Christianity. The missionary, St. Sigfrid, found V\u00e4rend to be a rich land with fertile farmland and lakes abounding with fish. While he was resting, an angel appeared to him and commanded him to build a church by Lake V\u00e4xj\u00f6sj\u00f6n, and some of the Christian residents of V\u00e4xj\u00f6 obliged. Shortly afterwards, St. Sigfrid had to visit King Olof of Sweden \u2013 known as the Tax King \u2013 and left his three nephews, who were monks, to take care of Christianising the local people.<\/p>\n<p>\n                <\/div>\n                                                <div class=\"dynamicContentTwoColumns dynamicContentTwoColumns__text\">\n                    <p><p>Horribly, the heathens killed the nephews and put their heads in a barrel in Lake V\u00e4xj\u00f6sj\u00f6n. The people then reverted to their heathen ways. But when St. Sigfrid returned from his travels, the three nephews appeared to him in a vision and bade him build the church. The local people had a bad conscience, and the church was built. We cannot say if the legend is true but it became important for V\u00e4xj\u00f6, which consolidated its position, becoming what was probably the first episcopal see in Sweden. Today, the Diocese of V\u00e4xj\u00f6 covers most of Sm\u00e5land and the island of \u00d6land.<\/p>\n<p>\n                <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__wrapper\" style=\"background-color: #374632\">\n    <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__container layout-reversed\">\n        <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__contentWrapper\">\n            <h2 class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__heading\" style=\"color: #ffffff\">\n                Brahe Church, Visings\u00f6            <\/h2>\n            <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__text contentImageTwoColumns__text--short\" style=\"color: #ffffff\">\n                                    <p>The 12th century saw the building of the \u201cKings\u2019 Church\u201d \u2013 Str\u00f6ja. In the 17th century, Count Magnus Brahe built\u00a0Brahe Church, as the chapel of Visingsborg Castle, in the grounds of Str\u00f6ja. Today, &#8230;                    <button type=\"button\" class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__readMoreLess\">\n                        Read more +                    <\/button>\n                            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__text contentImageTwoColumns__text--full\" style=\"color: #ffffff\">\n                <p>The 12th century saw the building of the \u201cKings\u2019 Church\u201d \u2013 Str\u00f6ja. In the 17th century, Count Magnus Brahe built\u00a0Brahe Church, as the chapel of Visingsborg Castle, in the grounds of Str\u00f6ja. Today, the church is a spacious hall church in Renaissance style, and boasts a wealth of works of art, relics of the past and curiosities.<\/p>\n                <button type=\"button\" class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__readMoreLess\">\n                    Read less &#8211;                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n                <div class=\"wp-block-button \">\n                    <a aria-label=\"Read more about the Brahe Church\" class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/jkpg.com\/en\/visingso\/brahe-church\/\" style=\"background-color: #f4f2eb; color: ;border: solid 1px #f4f2eb\">\n                        Read more about the Brahe Church                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                                <\/div>\n        <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__imageWrapper\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"740\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/visingso-1024x740.jpg\" class=\"attachment-grid-card-images size-grid-card-images\" alt=\"\" \/>        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__wrapper\" style=\"background-color: #f4f2eb\">\n    <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__container \">\n        <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__contentWrapper\">\n            <h2 class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__heading\" style=\"color: \">\n                Kalmar Cathedral            <\/h2>\n            <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__text contentImageTwoColumns__text--short\" style=\"color: \">\n                                    <p>Kalmar also has a baroque cathedral, which was designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Elder. It is located in Stortorget in the centre of the city and was consecrated in 1682. In terms of style, the cath&#8230;                    <button type=\"button\" class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__readMoreLess\">\n                        Read more +                    <\/button>\n                            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__text contentImageTwoColumns__text--full\" style=\"color: \">\n                <p>Kalmar also has a baroque cathedral, which was designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Elder. It is located in Stortorget in the centre of the city and was consecrated in 1682. In terms of style, the cathedral is a Nordic variant of baroque based on examples from Italy and France. The division into several building volumes, with richly adorned facades and limestone pilasters, is characteristic of the church and a reminder of Kalmar\u2019s glory days when it was an important city. It is sometimes called \u2018Sweden\u2019s most loved baroque building\u2019.<\/p>\n                <button type=\"button\" class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__readMoreLess\">\n                    Read less &#8211;                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n                <div class=\"wp-block-button arrow-white\">\n                    <a aria-label=\"Read more about Kalmar Cathedral\" class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.svenskakyrkan.se\/kalmar\/kalmardomkyrka\" style=\"background-color: #374632; color: #ffffff;border: solid 1px #374632\">\n                        Read more about Kalmar Cathedral                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                                <\/div>\n        <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__imageWrapper\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"740\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/fotograf-johnny-franzen-kalmar-16-1024x740.jpg\" class=\"attachment-grid-card-images size-grid-card-images\" alt=\"\" \/>        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__wrapper\" style=\"background-color: \">\n    <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__container layout-reversed\">\n        <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__contentWrapper\">\n            <h2 class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__heading\" style=\"color: \">\n                Habo Church            <\/h2>\n            <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__text contentImageTwoColumns__text--short\" style=\"color: \">\n                                    <p>Habo Church is famous for its paintings, which cover the entire interior. This cathedral-like church was built in the 14th century but since 1723 has been preserved unchanged. The box pews for weal&#8230;                    <button type=\"button\" class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__readMoreLess\">\n                        Read more +                    <\/button>\n                            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__text contentImageTwoColumns__text--full\" style=\"color: \">\n                <p>Habo Church is famous for its paintings, which cover the entire interior. This cathedral-like church was built in the 14th century but since 1723 has been preserved unchanged. The box pews for wealthy parishioners, the benches for farmers, and the galleries for crofters, farmhands and maids of days of old remain intact. Many exciting stories of finds from the 14th century live on in the church to this day. It was built as a cathedral church at a place where seven roads once met. Today, it stands alone out in the countryside. The church is open every day in the summer period, and guided tours can be booked in advance.<\/p>\n                <button type=\"button\" class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__readMoreLess\">\n                    Read less &#8211;                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n                <div class=\"wp-block-button \">\n                    <a aria-label=\"Read more about Habo Church\" class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/jonkopingslansmuseum.se\/se-och-gora\/smultronstallen\/habo\/habo-kyrka\/\" style=\"background-color: #fbbd51; color: ;border: solid 1px #fbbd51\">\n                        Read more about Habo Church                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                                <\/div>\n        <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__imageWrapper\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"740\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Habokyrka_summer5-1-1024x740.jpg\" class=\"attachment-grid-card-images size-grid-card-images\" alt=\"\" \/>        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__wrapper\" style=\"background-color: #374632\">\n    <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__container \">\n        <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__contentWrapper\">\n            <h2 class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__heading\" style=\"color: #fff\">\n                Hagby Church            <\/h2>\n            <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__text contentImageTwoColumns__text--short\" style=\"color: #fff\">\n                                    <p>Hagby Church is one of Sweden\u2019s few preserved round churches, and is considered by many to be the best preserved one in the country. The predecessor of the present Hagby stone church was the wooden&#8230;                    <button type=\"button\" class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__readMoreLess\">\n                        Read more +                    <\/button>\n                            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__text contentImageTwoColumns__text--full\" style=\"color: #fff\">\n                <p>Hagby Church is one of Sweden\u2019s few preserved round churches, and is considered by many to be the best preserved one in the country. The predecessor of the present Hagby stone church was the wooden St. Sigfrid chapel, which was located about two kilometres south of the present church structure. The construction of this stone church began in the late 12th century. The structure was meant to serve both as a sanctuary and a fortified building. As a result, the upper part of the walls has openings for shooting and spear throwing.<\/p>\n                <button type=\"button\" class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__readMoreLess\">\n                    Read less &#8211;                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n                <div class=\"wp-block-button \">\n                    <a aria-label=\"Read more about Hagby kyrka\" class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.svenskakyrkan.se\/sodermore\/hagby-kyrka\" style=\"background-color: #f4f2eb; color: #000000;border: solid 1px #f4f2eb\">\n                        Read more about Hagby kyrka                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                                <\/div>\n        <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__imageWrapper\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/hagby_kyrka.jpg\" class=\"attachment-grid-card-images size-grid-card-images\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/hagby_kyrka.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/hagby_kyrka-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/hagby_kyrka-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"dynamicContentTwoColumns dynamicContentTwoColumns__wrapper\">\n    <div class=\"dynamicContentTwoColumns dynamicContentTwoColumns__container\">\n                                    <h3 class=\"dynamicContentTwoColumns dynamicContentTwoColumns__heading\">\n                    The small medieval churches                <\/h3>\n                                                <div class=\"dynamicContentTwoColumns dynamicContentTwoColumns__text\">\n                    <p><p>Many of the medieval churches were left behind in certain places as larger ones were built. In poorer districts, the small churches remained in use. Some areas contain several of these churches close together.<\/p>\n<p>\n                <\/div>\n                                                <div class=\"dynamicContentTwoColumns dynamicContentTwoColumns__text\">\n                    <p><p>The Njudung churches are a group of nine medieval churches with a unique cultural history. The churches were built in the 12th century in Romanesque style with stone altars. The churches characteristically had no base and were sometimes called \u201cbarefoot churches\u201d. You can read more about Njudung (one of the small lands that formed Sm\u00e5land) and the churches <a href=\"https:\/\/jonkopingslansmuseum.se\/bloggportal\/byggnadsvard\/njudungskyrkorna-varda-en-omvag\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\n                <\/div>\n                                                <div class=\"dynamicContentTwoColumns dynamicContentTwoColumns__text\">\n                    <p><p>Uppvidinge was another of the constituent \u201clands\u201d of Sm\u00e5land and is now a municipality. There are several medieval churches where it borders V\u00e4xj\u00f6, for example Granhult Church and D\u00e4desj\u00f6 Church, Drev Church and Sj\u00f6s\u00e5 Church.<\/p>\n<p>\n                <\/div>\n                                                <div class=\"dynamicContentTwoColumns dynamicContentTwoColumns__text\">\n                    <p><p>The old medieval <a href=\"https:\/\/www.svenskakyrkan.se\/vaxjo\/dadesjo-gamla-kyrka\">D\u00e4desj\u00f6 Church<\/a> is whitewashed and boasts fantastic murals and ceiling paintings from the 13th century. The new church was built in 1794 and the old one was then used as a granary, but today is considered one of Sweden\u2019s best-preserved medieval churches. D\u00e4desj\u00f6 Church and its surroundings\u00a0are of national interest to Sweden\u2019s cultural heritage with two churches, two vicarages, a parish hall and church stables. The old church has a very well-preserved interior with frescoes and ceiling paintings dating from the late 13th century. These are unique, and have attracted international attention.<\/p>\n<p>\n                <\/div>\n                                                <div class=\"dynamicContentTwoColumns dynamicContentTwoColumns__text\">\n                    <p><p>Two other medieval churches in the area have been preserved thanks to the fact that they found alternative uses and the people fought Bishop Tegn\u00e9r to keep them.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.svenskakyrkan.se\/vaxjo\/drevs-gamla-kyrka\">Drevs Chruch<\/a>\u00a0is a well-preserved medieval church in Romanesque style and has been dated to approx. 1170, making it one of the oldest church buildings in Sm\u00e5land.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.svenskakyrkan.se\/vaxjo\/sjosas-gamla-kyrka\">Sj\u00f6s\u00e5s Chruch<\/a>\u00a0dates from the 15th century and is beautifully situated by \u00d6rken lake.<\/p>\n<p>\n                <\/div>\n                                                <div class=\"dynamicContentTwoColumns dynamicContentTwoColumns__text\">\n                    <p><p>The first church built in  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.svenskakyrkan.se\/platser\/630-hossmo-forsamling-hossmo-kyrka\">Hossmo<\/a> was probably made of wood. It was surrounded by a number of stone mausoleums \u2013 known in Sweden as Eskilstunakistor, or \u201cEskilstuna coffins\u201d \u2013 which date the wooden church to the latter part of the 11th century.\u00a0\u00a0The first stone church was built around 1120 and it has traditionally been considered that the addition of the upper storey made the church a \u201cdefensive church\u201d, but modern research has strongly called this into question. However, several written sources show that the church was used as a garrison and a flank stronghold for Kalmar during the Dano-Swedish conflicts of the early 16th century.<\/p>\n<p>\n                <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__wrapper\" style=\"background-color: #f4f2eb\">\n    <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__container \">\n        <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__contentWrapper\">\n            <h2 class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__heading\" style=\"color: \">\n                Granhult Church            <\/h2>\n            <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__text contentImageTwoColumns__text--short\" style=\"color: \">\n                                    <p>Granhult Church is one of our best-preserved wooden churches dating from the 13th century. There are only ten or so more or less preserved wooden churches from this period in the whole of Sweden. T&#8230;                    <button type=\"button\" class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__readMoreLess\">\n                        Read more +                    <\/button>\n                            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__text contentImageTwoColumns__text--full\" style=\"color: \">\n                <p>Granhult Church is one of our best-preserved wooden churches dating from the 13th century. There are only ten or so more or less preserved wooden churches from this period in the whole of Sweden. The altarpiece portraying the death of Christ was painted by Tobern R\u00f6ding in 1699. The oldest, clear paintings can be seen in the vestry, where the walls have four motifs from the Book of Genesis. They have been dated to the early 17th century. The ceiling painting is believed to be made by Hans Brachwagen in the early 1700s.<\/p>\n                <button type=\"button\" class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__readMoreLess\">\n                    Read less &#8211;                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n                <div class=\"wp-block-button arrow-white\">\n                    <a aria-label=\"Read more about Granhults kyrka\" class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"http:\/\/www.granhultskyrka.org\/\" style=\"background-color: #374632; color: #ffffff;border: solid 1px #374632\">\n                        Read more about Granhults kyrka                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                                <\/div>\n        <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__imageWrapper\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"740\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/alex7701-1024x740.jpg\" class=\"attachment-grid-card-images size-grid-card-images\" alt=\"\" \/>        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__wrapper\" style=\"background-color: #ffffff\">\n    <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__container layout-reversed\">\n        <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__contentWrapper\">\n            <h2 class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__heading\" style=\"color: \">\n                Pelarne Church            <\/h2>\n            <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__text contentImageTwoColumns__text--short\" style=\"color: \">\n                                    <p>Pelarne Church is one of the few remaining Middle Age wooden churches in Sweden and is located just a few kilometers from Sevedstorp near Vimmerby, which is known as Astrid Lindgren&#8217;s &#8220;Noisy Village&#8221;. It was in this church that Astrid&#8217;s parents were married in 1905.<\/p>\n                            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__text contentImageTwoColumns__text--full\" style=\"color: \">\n                <p>Pelarne Church is one of the few remaining Middle Age wooden churches in Sweden and is located just a few kilometers from Sevedstorp near Vimmerby, which is known as Astrid Lindgren&#8217;s &#8220;Noisy Village&#8221;. It was in this church that Astrid&#8217;s parents were married in 1905.<\/p>\n                <button type=\"button\" class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__readMoreLess\">\n                    Read less &#8211;                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n                <div class=\"wp-block-button \">\n                    <a aria-label=\"Read more about Pelarne Church\" class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"http:\/\/www.pelarne.nu\/info\/kyrka.html\" style=\"background-color: #fbbd51; color: ;border: solid 1px #fbbd51\">\n                        Read more about Pelarne Church                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                                <\/div>\n        <div class=\"contentImageTwoColumns contentImageTwoColumns__imageWrapper\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/pelarne-kyrka-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-grid-card-images size-grid-card-images\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/pelarne-kyrka-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/pelarne-kyrka-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/pelarne-kyrka-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n  \n<div class=\"featuredTwoColumns featuredTwoColumns__wrapper\">\n    <div class=\"featuredTwoColumns featuredTwoColumns__container\">  \n            <div class=\"featuredTwoColumns featuredTwoColumns__feturedWrapper\">\n            <a aria-label=\"Culture and history\" href=\"https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/en\/discover\/culture-and-history-inspiration\/\"class=\"featuredTwoColumns featuredTwoColumns__imageWrapper\">\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"740\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/asensby_fotografemmaivarsson-3-1024x740.jpg\" class=\"attachment-grid-card-images size-grid-card-images wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>            <\/a>\n            <div class=\"featuredTwoColumns featuredTwoColumns__contentWrapper\">\n                <h2 class=\"featuredTwoColumns featuredTwoColumns__heading\">\n                    Culture and history                <\/h2>\n                <p class=\"featuredTwoColumns featuredTwoColumns__description\">\n                    Once upon a time there were twelve small lands that\u2026                <\/p>\n                 \n                 \n                <div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n                    <div class=\"wp-block-button \">\n                        <a aria-label=\"Culture and history\"class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/en\/discover\/culture-and-history-inspiration\/\">\n                            Discover                       \n                         <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"featuredTwoColumns featuredTwoColumns__feturedWrapper\">\n            <a aria-label=\"Picturesque &amp; historical Sm\u00e5land\" href=\"https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/en\/discover\/historical-sites\/\"class=\"featuredTwoColumns featuredTwoColumns__imageWrapper\">\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"740\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/stensjo-by-den-kungliga-1024x740.jpg\" class=\"attachment-grid-card-images size-grid-card-images wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>            <\/a>\n            <div class=\"featuredTwoColumns featuredTwoColumns__contentWrapper\">\n                <h2 class=\"featuredTwoColumns featuredTwoColumns__heading\">\n                    Picturesque &amp; historical Sm\u00e5land                <\/h2>\n                <p class=\"featuredTwoColumns featuredTwoColumns__description\">\n                    Our landscape is rich in well-preserved sites where\u2026                <\/p>\n                 \n                 \n                <div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n                    <div class=\"wp-block-button \">\n                        <a aria-label=\"Picturesque &amp; historical Sm\u00e5land\"class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/en\/discover\/historical-sites\/\">\n                            Discover                       \n                         <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Medieval churches, cathedrals and other sights that represent the time when they were built. Today they are also popular tourist destinations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":68420,"parent":0,"menu_order":961,"template":"","tags":[],"land":[],"class_list":["post-29090","guide","type-guide","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"priority":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Churches | Visit Sm\u00e5land<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Medieval churches, cathedrals and other sights that represent the time when they were built. 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