Visby Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Visby Cathedral |
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| Visby Sankta Maria domkyrka | |
View from the northeast
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| 57°38′30″N 18°17′52″E / 57.64167°N 18.29778°E | |
| Location | Visby |
| Country | Sweden |
| Denomination | Church of Sweden |
| Previous denomination | Catholic Church Church of Denmark |
| Website | Official site (in Swedish): http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/default.aspx?id=657283 |
| History | |
| Dedication | Blessed Virgin Mary |
| Consecrated | 27 July 1225 (cathedral since 1572) |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Axel Haig (1899–1903) Jerk Alton (1979–1985) |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 55.5 m (182 ft) |
| Width | 24.7 m (81 ft) (at its widest point) |
| Height | 58 m (190 ft) (tallest point of the west tower) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Visby |
Visby Cathedral (Swedish: Visby domkyrka), also known as Visby Saint Mary's Cathedral, is a very old and important church in Visby, the main town on the Swedish island of Gotland. It belongs to the Church of Sweden and is where the Bishop of Visby works.
This church was first built in the 13th century for German traders who visited Visby. It started as a wooden church, then became a stone building. Over time, it was changed and made bigger. In 1572, it became a cathedral, which is a main church for a region. Since 1645, Gotland and the cathedral have been part of Sweden. The cathedral has been carefully looked after and renovated many times over the years.
Contents
A Look at Visby Cathedral's Design
Visby Cathedral has a main area called a nave with two side sections called aisles. It also has a square chancel (the area around the altar) and a tall tower at the west end. There are two smaller, round towers at the east end. The church's style is similar to old German buildings, especially from areas like Westphalia. However, it also shows some influences from French Gothic architecture.
The design of Visby Cathedral was so special that it even influenced other churches. You can see its impact on some churches on Gotland and even parts of bigger cathedrals in Linköping and Uppsala in mainland Sweden. Inside, the cathedral has many old and new items. Its main altarpiece (the artwork behind the altar) was added in 1905.
The Cathedral's Long History
How the Cathedral Began
Visby Cathedral wasn't always a cathedral. It started as a church for German traders who came to Visby in the 1200s. Visby was a busy port for the Hanseatic League, a powerful group of German trading cities. This church was one of the most important in the city.
At first, the church was only used when traders were in Visby, and they brought their own priests. Over time, many traders settled in Visby and formed a local church group. From then on, Saint Mary's Church was used by both the local German community and visiting traders.
Building the Stone Church
The very first church building was probably made of wood, but no parts of it remain today. The stone church we see now started being built in the late 1100s. German traders helped pay for it. Bishop Bengt of Linköping officially opened it on July 27, 1225.
This first stone church was built in the Romanesque style. It had a main area, two side aisles, a western tower, and a transept (the part that crosses the main body of the church). Soon after, the chancel was rebuilt into the square shape it has today. The transept was also made bigger, and the two smaller eastern towers were added. A new entrance, called the "bridal portal," was also built.
Changes Over the Centuries
In the mid-1200s, the main part of the church was rebuilt. Saint Mary's Church was made wider, changing it from a basilica (a church with a raised central nave) to a hall church (where the nave and aisles are about the same height).
About 50 years later, a large chapel was added to the south side. This chapel is now called "the great chapel." During the 1300s, new, larger windows in the Gothic style were put in. The church roof was also raised, making the outside look like a basilica, even though the inside remained a hall church. These changes made the church look even more impressive from the outside. The main tower was made taller in 1423.
Later Updates and Renovations
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Not many changes have been made to the building since the Middle Ages. After a battle in 1361, Gotland became part of Denmark. When the Reformation happened, Visby only needed one church for its people. The German traders' church was chosen, and in 1572, it became a cathedral. In 1645, Gotland became part of Sweden.
In 1611, a fire damaged the eastern part of the cathedral. The wooden spires (pointy tops) of the east towers were replaced in 1761. The spire of the west tower is from 1746. The church has been repaired many times over the years.
A big renovation happened between 1899 and 1903, led by architect Axel Haig. He wanted to fix and protect the cathedral without changing it too much. Some of the main changes included restoring the 14th-century clerestory (the upper part of the nave wall with windows), lowering the aisle roofs, and removing old whitewash from the outside walls. A new sacristy (a room where clergy prepare) was also built. The church's decorations were also updated in a Gothic revival style.
More changes were made later in the 20th century. In 1906, electricity was installed, and in 1928, a new heating system was added. Another big renovation took place from 1979 to 1985. During this work, old medieval paintings were found in the north aisle. The cathedral was also renovated again from 2013 to 2015.
Where the Cathedral Stands
Visby Cathedral is in the old part of Visby, inside the city wall. Because the church was used by German merchants, archaeologists think a trading post was once nearby. They have found old items like gilded figures and 14th-century glass from Syria, showing that goods from far away were traded here.
West of the cathedral is the home of the Bishop of Visby. Its main building was built in 1938-1939, inspired by traditional Gotland homes. The area around the cathedral used to be a cemetery. There are six ways to enter this area. The oldest entrance is a medieval gate from the late 1300s. The south entrance is in a Baroque style and has an old monogram of a Danish king.
Inside and Out: The Cathedral's Look
Outside Features
In the Middle Ages, the outside of the church was probably covered in whitewash, except for the carved parts. This whitewash was removed during the renovation by Axel Haig. The eastern part of the church, including the chancel and the two east towers, has more decorations than the western part.
The great chapel on the south side looks different from the rest of the building. It has large, plain walls, buttresses (supports), pinnacles (small spires), and gargoyles (carved figures that act as water spouts). Three of the gargoyles are original from the Middle Ages. Such gargoyles are rare in other Swedish medieval churches. Much of the upper part of the great chapel's facade was rebuilt during Haig's restoration.
The cathedral has five entrances. The tower entrance is a simple Romanesque style. The "bridal portal" on the south side is from the 1200s. Its carved tops are decorated with flowers. The south entrance to the great chapel is the most detailed. Its unique decoration, with many pinnacles, is similar to designs found in Strasbourg Cathedral and Cologne Cathedral.
Inside the Cathedral
The main area and two side aisles form a hall church that is five sections long. The aisles are a little lower and narrower than the main area. The last section of the main area and the chancel are a few steps higher. The walls and ceilings are covered with yellowish plaster, but the limestone pillars and arches are visible.
The church's many changes over the centuries have made its inside look varied. For example, the pillars have different carved tops, some from the very first building phase and some from the 19th-century renovation. The ceilings are all groin vaults (a type of arched ceiling).
The great chapel is a separate room with three sections of equal height. It connects to the rest of the church through a pointed arch. The center stones of its ceilings are decorated with carvings of the Lamb of God, the head of Christ, and flowers. The carved tops and supports in the great chapel are also richly decorated with Gothic sculptures.
Treasures and Furnishings
The main altarpiece of the cathedral was installed in 1905. It shows the Adoration of the Magi (the wise men visiting baby Jesus) in the middle, with carvings of Saint Nicholas and other saints on the sides. An older altarpiece from the 1500s, which used to be in the cathedral, is now in Källunge Church.
A large rood cross from the 1400s, which was once in the cathedral, is now in the Gotland Museum. However, the cathedral still has a wooden sculpture of the resurrected Christ from the 1200s. A wooden church tabernacle (a small cabinet for sacred items) from the mid-1200s is also still in the cathedral. The decorated wooden pulpit (where sermons are given) dates from 1684. It was a gift from a German trader who became the mayor of Visby.
All the cathedral's windows probably had medieval stained glass at one time, but none of it remains. The three stained glass windows in the east wall were installed in 1892. The five windows in the great chapel were made by artist Pär Andersson and installed between 1985 and 1990. Each window has a special theme, like "the guardian of truth" or "New Jerusalem."
The cathedral has five church organs. The oldest one is from 1599 and has been restored. It is located on the west gallery above the main area. There is also a carillon (a set of bells played like an instrument) with 45 bells from 1960.
Visby Cathedral also contains many old tombstones and memorials. The oldest dates from the 1300s. There is a memorial for Eric, the son of King Albert of Sweden. Other memorials remember events like the sinking of a Danish-Lübeck fleet in 1566, the Swedish passenger ship SS Hansa in 1944, refugees from the Baltic states, the sinking of MS Estonia in 1994, and the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
How the Cathedral is Used Today
Visby Cathedral is part of the Church of Sweden and is the main church for the Bishop of Visby. It is considered an important historical building in Sweden. The cathedral is also one of the most popular places for tourists to visit on Gotland. In 2008, over 205,000 people visited it.
Images for kids
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View from the northeast
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Visby Cathedral as it appeared during the first half of the 19th century
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The south, Baroque entrance gate
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Aerial view of the cathedral from the southeast
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South facade of Visby Cathedral, with the great chapel to the left and the bridal portal to the right
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The nave, view towards the chancel
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The Gothic revival altarpiece
