Skara Cathedral Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Skara Cathedral
Skara Cathedral, July 2004
58°23′11″N 13°26′21″E / 58.38639°N 13.43917°E / 58.38639; 13.43917
Location	Skara
Country	Sweden
Denomination	Church of Sweden
History
Status	Cathedral
Founded	11th Century
Dedication	St Mary
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Style	Gothic
Groundbreaking	13th Century
Specifications
Number of spires	2
Administration
Diocese	Skara

Skara Cathedral (which in Swedish is called Skara domkyrka) is a very old and important church in the town of Skara, Sweden. It's not just any church; it's a cathedral, which means it's the main church for the bishop of the Diocese of Skara in the Church of Sweden. Think of it as the main headquarters for the church in that area!

A Look Back in Time
Gallery
See also

A Look Back in Time

Skara Cathedral has a long and exciting history, going all the way back to the 10th century! However, the way it looks today, with its Gothic style, mostly comes from the 13th century.

Building Through the Centuries

The oldest parts, like the choir (where the main altar is), were built in the early 1200s. The transept (the arms of the cross-shaped church) and the nave (the main part where people sit) were added about 100 years later.

Over the years, the cathedral was damaged many times, for example, by fires. Each time, it was rebuilt and changed. This means its current look is a mix of different styles and times. In the 1760s, the south side was given a fancy baroque style.

Modern Gothic Design

The look you see today, with its tall, pointed towers, comes from a big restoration project between 1886 and 1894. This work was led by a famous architect named Helgo Zettervall. Before this, the two towers were flat on top. Zettervall gave them the sharp, pointed Gothic spires that make the cathedral stand out.

Beautiful Stained Glass Windows

Inside the cathedral, you'll find 37 amazing stained glass windows. These colorful windows were made by an artist named Bo Beskow, working with a glazier (someone who works with glass) named Gustav Ringström. They worked on these windows for many years, from 1945 to 1976.

Most of the pictures in the windows tell stories from the Bible. But you can also see two important Swedish saints: Bridget of Sweden and Helena of Skövde. Sadly, none of the original windows from the medieval church survived.

Bells and Size

The cathedral has two tall towers on its west side, and inside them are four large bells. The northern tower holds the biggest bell, which was made in 1725 and made even larger in 1785. The southern tower has three smaller bells. The church itself is about 65 meters (213 feet) long, and its towers reach an impressive height of 63 meters (207 feet)!

The Hidden Crypt

One of the most fascinating parts of Skara Cathedral is its medieval crypt. A crypt is an underground room, often used for burials. This crypt was discovered in 1949! It had been buried under stones since the 13th century.

Inside the crypt, a grave with a skeleton was found. This crypt is part of the very oldest section of the cathedral, dating back to the 10th century. You can still see some parts of that original 10th-century building in the crypt today.