Mariestad Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mariestad Cathedral |
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Mariestad Cathedral
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| 58°42′45″N 13°49′20″E / 58.71250°N 13.82222°E | |
| Location | Mariestad |
| Country | Sweden |
| Denomination | Church of Sweden |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Skara |
Mariestad Cathedral (in Swedish, Mariestads domkyrka) is a beautiful church building in Mariestad, Sweden. It's a special kind of church called a cathedral. This means it's the main church for a bishop in the Church of Sweden, specifically for the Diocese of Skara.
Contents
A Look Back: The Cathedral's Story
Building a Grand Church
The Mariestad Cathedral was built a long time ago, between the years 1593 and 1619. It took many years to finish! It was officially opened and dedicated in 1625.
Design and Style
The church has a special design called "late Gothic". This style was popular for churches built in Europe during the Middle Ages. It often features tall, pointed arches and large windows. Mariestad Cathedral is also an "aisleless" church. This means it has one main open space inside, instead of separate side aisles. It also has a hint of "transepts," which are parts of the church that stick out like the arms of a cross.
Changes Over Time
The outside of the cathedral, with its natural stone walls and tall tower, got its look in 1905. This was part of a big restoration project led by Folke Zettervall.
Inside, you can see a beautiful "Baroque" altarpiece and a pulpit. These were made in 1701 by an artist named Börje Löfman. The altarpiece is the decorated screen or panel behind the altar. The pulpit is a raised platform where sermons are given. A new altar, made of limestone, was added during another restoration between 1958 and 1959.
The church also has a grand organ. In 1938, a company called Frobenius Orgelbyggeri built a new "pneumatic organ." This type of organ uses air pressure to make its sounds. Some parts of the old organ were even used again in the new one!
Gallery
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Inside the cathedral, looking towards the front.
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The main altar where services are held.
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The pulpit, a special place for speaking.
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The impressive organ of the cathedral.
