Sigtuna Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Sigtuna

Stora gatan, the old main street

Coat of arms

Sigtuna

Location in Stockholm

Sigtuna

Location in Sweden

Sigtuna

Location in European Union

Area

• Total

4.57 km² (1.76 sq mi)

Population

• Total

9,689

• Density

1,849/km² (4,790/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Website

Official website: http://destinationsigtuna.se/en/

Sigtuna is a town in Sweden, located in Stockholm County. In 2020, about 9,689 people lived there. Even though Sigtuna is a very old and famous town, the main office for its local government is in a different place called Märsta.

Sigtuna is found by a bay called Skarven, which is part of Lake Mälaren. The town we see today was built around the year 980. It is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) east of a much older place called Old Sigtuna. Some old stories say that the god Odin lived in Old Sigtuna.

What Does the Name Sigtuna Mean?
- The "Swampy Place" Idea
- The "Strong Fortress" Idea
Sigtuna's Long History
Fun Things to Do in Sigtuna
- Popular Attractions
Gallery
Sports
Famous People from Sigtuna
More to Read
See also

What Does the Name Sigtuna Mean?

The name Sigtuna was moved from an older place now called Signhildsberg. People are not completely sure what "Sigtuna" means.

The "Swampy Place" Idea

One idea is that the name is made of two parts. The second part, -tuna, means "enclosed space" or "farm." The first part, sig or sik, might mean "seeping water" or "swamp." This idea comes from a small stream south of Signhildsberg or because the area was surrounded by marshy land.

The "Strong Fortress" Idea

Another idea is that Sigtuna means "strong fortress." This name might have traveled from other old languages. It could come from an old word meaning "victory." So, Sigtuna could mean "victory fortress."

Sigtuna's Long History

Sigtuna was founded over 1,000 years ago, right on the shore of Lake Mälaren. It got its name from an old royal estate located a few kilometers to the west. Some people say King Eric the Victorious started the town, while others say King Olof Skötkonung did.

A Royal and Trading Center

For about 250 years, Sigtuna was a very important royal and trading center in Sweden. It was one of the most important cities. For a short time, around the late 900s and early 1000s, Sweden's very first coins were made here!

Important Buildings and Churches

St. Mary's Church was built in the 1200s by a group of monks called the Dominican order. This church is still mostly standing today. The Dominican monastery in Sigtuna was very important in the Middle Ages in Sweden. Many important church leaders, including several Swedish archbishops, came from there.

You can still see the ruins of many old churches and monasteries in Sigtuna:

St. Pers Church (S:t Pers kyrkoruin) from the 1100s.
St. Olof Church (S:t Olofs kyrkoruin) from the mid-1000s.
St. Lars Church (S:t Lars kyrkoruin) from the mid-1200s.

The Attack on Sigtuna

In 1187, Sigtuna was attacked and robbed by raiders who came from across the Baltic Sea. These attackers might have been from places like Curonia or Estonia. However, digging up old sites has not fully proven that the town was completely destroyed. Life in Sigtuna continued.

Why Sigtuna Became Less Important

Over time, Sigtuna slowly became less important during the 1200s. This was because the land around Lake Mälaren was rising, making it harder for ships to reach the town.

The Coat of Arms

The current coat of arms (the town's official symbol) comes from Sigtuna's first known seal, which dates back to 1311. A story says Sigtuna was once a royal city, but this is not confirmed. The crown on the coat of arms might also represent the large royal mint (where coins were made) that was in the town. Since 1971, this coat of arms has been used for the larger Sigtuna Municipality.

Modern Growth

In the late 1800s, Sigtuna had only about 600 people and was the smallest town in Sweden. It stayed a small town until the second half of the 1900s. A lot of its recent growth is because of Stockholm Arlanda Airport, which is only about 10 kilometers (6 miles) away.

Fun Things to Do in Sigtuna

Sigtuna has a town center that looks like it's from the Middle Ages. You can find restaurants, cafes, and small shops there.

Popular Attractions

The old church ruins, Viking runestones, and the main street (Stora gatan) are very popular with tourists, especially in the summer. The small streets with their low wooden houses lead to many handicraft shops and the tiny old town hall (Sigtuna Rådhus). There are also restaurants and the Sigtuna Stadshotell, a hotel in the town center.

Gallery

Sigtuna as it looked around 1700. Engraving from Suecia antiqua et hodierna
St. Mary's Church (Mariakyrkan) is a fine example of Brick Gothic architecture in Sweden
Sigtuna old town hall in early winter
St Olof's Church ruin (S:t Olofs kyrkoruin)
Sigtuna vicarage and St Per's Church ruin (S:t Pers kyrkoruin)
St Lars Church ruin (S:t Lars kyrkoruin)
Sigtuna Stadshotell, the traditional town hotel overlooking lake Mälaren
Sigtuna Museum
Sigtunaskolan Humanistiska Läroverket (boarding school)
The Sigtuna foundation (Sigtunastiftelsen), a private cultural foundation established in 1917