Lund Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lund Cathedral |
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| Lunds domkyrka | |
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| 55°42′15″N 13°11′36″E / 55.70417°N 13.19333°E | |
| Location | Lund |
| Country | Sweden |
| Denomination | Church of Sweden |
| Previous denomination | Church of Denmark (until 1658) Roman Catholic (until the Reformation) |
| Website | Website of the Cathedral |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Founded | Late 11th century |
| Dedication | Saint Lawrence |
| Consecrated | 30 June 1123 (crypt) 1 September 1145 (main altar) |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Ecclesiastical monument in the buildings database of the Swedish National Heritage Board. |
| Architect(s) | Donatus Adam van Düren Carl Georg Brunius Helgo Zettervall |
| Style | Romanesque Neo-Romanesque |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 85 m (279 ft) |
| Width | 30 m (98 ft) |
| Height | 55 m (180 ft) (to the top of the towers) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Lund |
Lund Cathedral (Swedish: Lunds domkyrka) is a famous church in Lund, Sweden. It belongs to the Church of Sweden, which is a Lutheran church. This cathedral is the main church for the Diocese of Lund and where the Bishop of Lund works. Long ago, it was a Catholic cathedral for all the Nordic countries. It was dedicated to Saint Lawrence. Lund Cathedral is one of the oldest stone buildings in Sweden that is still used today.
When it was built, Lund and the cathedral were part of Denmark. The main altar was blessed in 1145. By then, most of the cathedral was finished. Its style shows influences from churches in northern Italy and the Rhine Valley. An early architect was named Donatus. The cathedral has many stone sculptures, including two unique statues in the crypt. A local legend says they are "The giant Finn and his wife".
In 1234, a big fire damaged the cathedral. Major repairs happened in the early 1500s, led by Adam van Düren. After the Reformation, the church lost money and became run down. In 1658, Lund became part of Sweden. Lund Cathedral was also where Lund University was officially started in 1668. The cathedral was greatly restored and rebuilt during the 1800s. This work was led by Carl Georg Brunius and later by Helgo Zettervall. Zettervall even rebuilt the entire western part, including the towers.
The cathedral holds many old items and artworks. Its main altarpiece was given in 1398. It also has Gothic choir stalls, bronze statues, and an astronomical clock from the 1400s. The clock was heavily restored in 1923. Lund Cathedral has six church organs, and one is the largest in Sweden. It is also used for concerts.
Contents
A Look Back: How the Cathedral Began
Christian missionaries from Germany and England helped bring Christianity to Denmark. They wanted to have influence over the kingdom. Denmark eventually became part of the Archdiocese of Hamburg-Bremen. Lund was in Denmark at that time.
In the late 1000s, Danish kings wanted more control over their church. So, a church area (called an episcopal see) was created in Lund in 1060. Another one was made nearby in Dalby. But when the first bishop of Lund died, the bishop from Dalby moved to Lund. In 1103, Lund became the main church center for all Nordic countries.
Lund Cathedral was not the first church in Lund. Earlier churches were built in the city in the late 900s. Lund Cathedral is one of the oldest stone buildings still used in Sweden. In the Middle Ages, many buildings for the church were around the cathedral. Only one, called Liberiet, which was once a library, still stands.
Building the Cathedral: A Long History
Starting the Construction
The first mention of a church in Lund dedicated to Saint Lawrence was in 1085. Later writings talk about both a new and an old church for Saint Lawrence. In the 1940s, digging inside the cathedral found the foundations of an older church. Most experts think a church started being built here in the late 1000s. Then, a new, larger church, which is the current cathedral, began in almost the same spot. Parts of the older church might have been used in the new walls.
The building of Lund Cathedral is very well documented for a Romanesque church. Two old books, Necrologium Lundense and Liber daticus vetustior, are still kept at Lund University. These books have notes in Latin about how the construction progressed.
The oldest part of the cathedral is its large crypt. The main altar of the crypt was opened on June 30, 1123. The crypt then started to be used. One of its main uses was for baptisms. The main altar of the cathedral was dedicated on September 1, 1145. This ceremony was led by Archbishop Eskil. By this time, the cathedral was mostly built to its current size.
The architect's name, Donatus, is known, which was unusual then. He might have planned the crypt and the main church. His style shows clear influences from Lombardy in northern Italy. Speyer Cathedral in Germany is similar in style to Lund Cathedral.
Building the cathedral needed many people. It helped create a workshop where local craftspeople could learn. This spread European art styles to Scandinavia. Many early stone churches in Sweden and Denmark show influences from Lund Cathedral.
Fire and Major Repairs
The cathedral built by 1145 looked much like it does today. One difference was that the choir was separated from the main area by a wall. This area was only for the clergy. The towers were built a few decades later. The cathedral was meant to have stone ceilings, but a flat wooden ceiling was put in instead. It also had wall paintings and stained glass windows, but these are gone.
In 1234, a big fire badly damaged the cathedral. Many donations were made to help with repairs. The burnt wooden ceiling was replaced with strong brick vaults. Changes were also made to the western part of the building. Two chapels were added in the 1300s and 1400s. Strong supports called Buttresses were also added over time. These helped hold up the building, which was strained by the new, heavier ceilings and the constant ringing of the 8.5 tonne church bell.
Changes by Adam van Düren
The German sculptor and builder Adam van Düren worked on the cathedral between 1506 and 1524. The cathedral needed a lot of repair work. Adam van Düren and his team made several changes. They put in a new drainage system in the crypt. As part of this, a well was decorated with funny pictures. They also added new windows in the choir and rebuilt parts of the northern transept. The towers and western front were also repaired. Some say the cathedral might have fallen down without van Düren's work.
After the Reformation in the 1500s, the church lost much of its money. The building was still under stress, especially from the large church bell. It also suffered during the many wars between Denmark and Sweden. In 1658, Lund became a permanent part of Sweden. Even with van Düren's repairs, the church was described as "very dilapidated" in 1682.
In the 1700s, the chapels were used for funerals and sometimes as a place for bodies. Attempts were made to repair the church. For example, the entire apse was taken apart and rebuilt. But many repairs were only temporary or even made things worse. King Gustav III of Sweden visited the crypt in 1785 and was unhappy with its condition. In 1812, the chapels from the 1300s and 1400s were torn down.
Modern Restorations: Brunius and Zettervall
In the early 1800s, the church wanted a new church organ. Architect Axel Nyström looked at the building in 1832. He suggested a complete renovation. Carl Georg Brunius, who managed the cathedral buildings, started this work. He also made his own changes and wrote the first art history of the cathedral. Brunius moved the organ, fixed the crypt, and improved the drainage. He also removed modern furnishings and changed parts of the facade.
Brunius retired in 1859. But more repairs were needed, so young architect Helgo Zettervall took over in 1860. Zettervall worked on the cathedral until 1893 and put most of his ideas into action. He traveled to Germany and Italy to study similar architecture and learn about building restoration. In 1863, he suggested a full restoration. This plan included removing all buttresses, a new roof, and completely rebuilt towers. He also wanted to add an octagonal dome.
Zettervall's plan was criticized. He made a new, less extreme proposal in 1864, without the central dome. This plan was also rejected. However, it was decided that Zettervall would continue to repair the cathedral. Over the next decades, he slowly rebuilt the cathedral mostly according to his 1864 design.
Between 1832 and 1893, Brunius and Zettervall greatly changed the cathedral. All windows were replaced. Many vaults and pillars were repaired or rebuilt. Zettervall removed all the buttresses. He also tore down the entire western part of the church, including the towers. He rebuilt them in his own Neo-Romanesque style.
In the 1900s, archaeologists dug in and around the cathedral. The building had another big restoration from 1954 to 1963. During this time, decorative paintings from the 1800s were removed. The large mosaic in the apse was added in 1927. It was designed by Joakim Skovgaard. In 1990, the choir's layout was changed, and the altar was moved. Pope Francis visited the cathedral in 2016 to mark the 499th anniversary of the Reformation.
Cathedral Design and Art
Lund Cathedral is known as a powerful example of Romanesque architecture in the Nordic countries. It stands out from other buildings around it. It has two towers built by Zettervall at the west end. Behind them is a large main area called a nave with two side aisles. This opens into a transept, which is a bit higher than the nave. Stairs connect the nave to the choir and the crypt below it. The choir ends in a rounded section called an apse. Inside, the cathedral's sections are supported by groin vaults. The crypt has over forty shallow vaults supported by pillars. It is dimly lit and looks much like it did in 1123.
From the outside, you can clearly see the different parts of the building. The apse is a strong, rounded shape. It has three levels, each divided into sections. The top part is a gallery with small columns. The apse is the best-preserved part of the original Romanesque building.
The southern entrance of the nave is probably the oldest part. It has five decorated arches with small columns. The northern entrance is newer and more decorated. Its carving shows Samson fighting a lion. Two bronze doors, made by Carl Johan Dyfverman, are the main entrance. They have 24 carvings from the Bible. Above the doors, a carving shows Christ, Canute IV of Denmark, and Saint Lawrence. The cathedral has two sacristies, which are rooms for clergy. The cathedral is mostly built from sandstone from the area. The main walls are thick, about 2 to 3 meters (6.5 to 10 feet).
- Overview of Lund Cathedral
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Plan around 1200.
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Aerial view from the south east
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View from the entrance towards east
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View from the altar towards west
Stone Sculptures and Art
Lund Cathedral had the most detailed Romanesque stone sculptures in the Nordic countries. They are very artistic. The most famous are the two figures in the crypt, called "The giant Finn and his wife". A local story says the giant helped build the cathedral. When he wasn't paid, he tried to destroy it but turned to stone. Most experts think the larger figure is Samson. These sculptures are very old but have been damaged over time.
The sculptures show influences from northern Italian art. For example, a decorated canopy in the north transept once had original paint. Another canopy in the south wall has columns shaped like angels. Similar sculptures are found in Italy. The capitals (tops) of the columns in the church are also very detailed. They show either Classical or Byzantine styles.
Besides the Romanesque art, Lund Cathedral also has later medieval sculptures by Adam van Düren. Many of these show animals and have writings in Low German.
Main Altarpiece
The main altarpiece was given to the cathedral in 1398. It was likely made in northern Germany. The center shows the Coronation of the Virgin. It is surrounded by two rows of saints. The altarpiece is 7.6 meters (25 feet) wide.
Choir Stalls
The choir has two rows of medieval choir stalls with 78 seats. These wooden stalls are from the late 1300s. They are about 3 meters (10 feet) tall and have carved details. These carvings show scenes from the Old and New Testament. They also have small carvings of animals. Their style is High Gothic and they are linked to art from the Rhine Valley. They are among the largest wooden Gothic sculptures in the Nordic countries.
Older than the choir stalls is a damaged bishop's throne. It is in the south transept. Next to it is a Gothic tabernacle. It is a 5-meter (16-foot) tall wooden pillar with two cabinets.
Astronomical Clock
The astronomical clock is in the north aisle. It was installed around 1425. In 1837, it was taken apart. It was put back together and started working again in 1923. The top part is the clock, and the bottom part is a calendar. Twice a day, two knights on top hit their swords. The clock then plays the song In dulci jubilo. Figures of the three Kings and their servants parade across the clock's face. Similar clocks exist in other Baltic Sea towns. The clock was repaired in 2009–2010.
On the opposite side of the nave, there is another decorated clock from 1623.
Bronze Artworks
The cathedral has three old bronze columns with small statues. These are the oldest remaining furnishings in the cathedral. Two columns have angels on top. The third has a statue of Saint Lawrence holding a gridiron, which is a symbol of his death. These columns were probably made in Lübeck or Hamburg.
In the south transept, there is also a 3.5-meter (11.5-foot) tall seven-branched candle holder. It was made in Hamburg in the late 1400s. It came to the cathedral in pieces, and you can still see assembly instructions on it. Similar candle holders were put in other Scandinavian cathedrals around the same time.
Pulpit
The current pulpit was made in 1592 by Johannes Ganssog from Germany. It is cleverly attached to one of the nave's pillars. You enter it through stairs cut inside the pillar. It is made of sandstone, black limestone, and marble. It is also partly painted and gilded. Carvings of alabaster on its side show scenes from the New Testament.
Graves and Memorials
Many people are buried in the cathedral. The crypt has the oldest grave, belonging to Hermann of Schleswig. He was important to the archbishop in the 1100s. His simple stone coffin is in the crypt's apse. The crypt also has the large grave of the last archbishop, Birger Gunnersen. This large stone coffin is decorated with sculptures and a full-size image of the bishop on the lid. It was made by Adam van Düren in 1512.
The cathedral's largest grave is for Bishop Hans Brostorp, who died in 1497. He helped start the University of Copenhagen. This monument is made of limestone.
The nave and aisles have many memorial plaques and epitaphs. Many remember bishops and professors from Lund University. The oldest epitaph is for Lave Brahe (1500–1567) and his wife Görvel Fadersdotter (Sparre).
Baptismal Font
The baptismal font is an Early Gothic font made of reddish-grey limestone. It is not heavily decorated.
Plants on the Cathedral Walls
People have studied the plants that grow on the cathedral walls. The first person to describe these plants was Daniel Rolander in 1771. He listed the plants, mosses, and lichens he found. Elias Magnus Fries also observed the plants in the early 1800s.
A more detailed study of the plants was published in 1922. In 1935, a scientist named Ove Almborn studied the lichens. The lichens were studied again in 1993. One small fern called wall-rue (Asplenium ruta-muraria) is very noticeable on the cathedral. In 1993, 15 types of lichens were found. One type, Lecanora perpruinosa, had never been seen in the Scania area before.
Lund Cathedral and Lund University
Lund University was founded in 1666. The official ceremony for its founding happened in the cathedral in 1668. After the Reformation, the choir area was used as a classroom for a long time. First, it was used by Lund Cathedral School, and later by the university. The university also stored its library in the choir for some time. Today, the cathedral is still where new doctor's degrees are awarded at the university.
Music at the Cathedral
Lund Cathedral has five choirs for adults and two for children. Many concerts are also held there.
The cathedral has six church organs. One of them is the largest church organ in Sweden. This large organ was built between 1932 and 1934. It was renovated in 1992. It has 102 stops and 7,074 pipes. The smallest organ is inside the astronomical clock. It plays the tune In dulci jubilo.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Lund para niños
