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 | Roman Catholic 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, also known as Visby Saint Mary's Cathedral, is a very old and important church in Visby, Sweden. It is the main church for the Diocese of Visby within the Church of Sweden. You can find it right in the middle of Visby, the main town on the island of Gotland.
This cathedral started as a church for German traders back in the 13th century. It was first a wooden church, then rebuilt with stone. Over time, it grew and changed from a basilica (a church with a central nave and lower side aisles) into a hall church (where the nave and aisles are about the same height). In 1572, it became a cathedral. Today, it's a key landmark and a busy church.
Contents
History of Visby Cathedral
How the Church Began
Visby Cathedral wasn't always a cathedral. It started as a church for German traders who visited Visby in the 1200s. Visby was a very important trading city, part of the powerful Hanseatic League. This church was one of the most important in the city. It was also the richest church in Visby by the end of the Middle Ages.
Because it was for traveling traders, it didn't have a regular group of churchgoers at first. Traders would use it when they were in Visby and bring their own priests. When they left, the church would be empty. Later, some traders settled in Visby and formed a local church community. So, Saint Mary's Church was used by both the local German community and visiting traders.
Building the Stone Church
The first church building was likely made of wood, but no parts of it remain. The stone church we see today began to be 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 (nave), two side aisles, a western tower, and a cross-shaped section (transept). It also had a square area for the altar (chancel). Soon after, the chancel was rebuilt into its current square shape. The transept was also made bigger, and two smaller, octagonal towers were added to the east. A new entrance, called the "bridal portal," was built in the western transept.
Changes Over Time
In the mid-1200s, the main part of the church was rebuilt. Saint Mary's Church was made wider, turning it from a basilica into a hall church. This design was inspired by churches in western Germany. About 50 years later, a large chapel was added to the south. 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 stayed a hall church. These changes made the church look more impressive from the outside. The main tower was made taller in 1423.
Later Updates and Renovations
Not many changes have been made to the building since the Middle Ages. In 1361, Gotland became part of Denmark. After the Reformation, Visby only needed one church. The German traders' church was chosen, and many other churches became ruins. In 1572, Saint Mary's Church became a cathedral. In 1645, Gotland and the cathedral became part of Sweden.
A fire in 1611 damaged the eastern part of the cathedral. The wooden spires on the east towers were replaced in 1761. The spire on the west tower is from 1746. The roofs have been fixed many times since the 1700s.
A big renovation happened between 1899 and 1903, led by architect Axel Haig. He worked for free to help restore the cathedral. The main goal was to fix and protect the building without changing too much. Some key changes included restoring the 14th-century upper windows (clerestory) and removing old whitewash from the outside walls. A new room for the sacristy was built, and some decorations were updated in a Gothic Revival style.
More changes happened in the 20th century. Electric lights were added in 1906, and a new heating system in 1928. A fire sprinkler system was put in the west tower in 1959.
Another major renovation took place from 1979 to 1985, led by architect Jerk Alton. During this work, old medieval paintings were found in the north aisle. The great chapel was also separated from the main part of the cathedral. The outside and inside of the cathedral were renovated again from 2013 to 2015.
Cathedral Location and Surroundings
Visby Cathedral is located inside the old medieval part of Visby, within the city wall. Experts believe a trading post for German merchants was nearby because they used the church. During digs, old items like decorated figures and 14th-century glass from Syria were found, 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. The area also includes some buildings from the Middle Ages.
The cathedral is surrounded by an old cemetery. There are six ways to enter it. The oldest entrance is to the north, a medieval gate from the late 1300s. It still has some of its original carved decorations. The south entrance is in the Baroque style and has the faded symbol of Christian IV of Denmark.
Cathedral Architecture
Building Style and Influences
The medieval church's style was very similar to German churches, especially from areas like Westphalia and the Rhineland. Many German traders who came to Gotland were from these regions. For example, the "bridal portal" is in a typical late Romanesque style from the Rhineland.
However, some parts were unique to Gotland. The tower with its galleries, for instance, influenced how other churches on Gotland were built. It's also likely that the church's design was influenced by buildings on mainland Sweden, like Uppsala Cathedral. In return, the architecture of Visby Cathedral, and the limestone and stonemasons from Gotland, might have influenced parts of Linköping Cathedral and Uppsala Cathedral.
Visby Cathedral has a main area (nave) with two side aisles. It has a square chancel (altar area), a square western tower, and two smaller, eight-sided towers to the east. On the south side, there's a large chapel called "the great chapel." A smaller chapel next to it is known as the "merchants' chapel." The nave's roof is higher than the aisle roofs, letting light into a large attic. The oldest parts of the cathedral include the lower part of the western tower, parts of the original transepts, and some pillars and arches.
Outside Features
In the Middle Ages, the outside of the church was probably covered in whitewash, except for the carved details. All the whitewash was removed during Axel Haig's renovation. The eastern part of the church, including the chancel and the two east towers, has more decorations than the western part.
The facade of the great chapel 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, and one is a 19th-century copy. A fifth gargoyle was added by Haig. These types of gargoyles are rare in other Swedish medieval churches. Much of the upper part of the great chapel's facade, including a large sculpture of Christ, comes from Haig's restoration.
The cathedral has five entrances. The tower entrance is a simple Romanesque one. A smaller northwestern entrance has been rebuilt several times. The entrance to the sacristy was added during Haig's restoration and shows a carving of Saint Nicholas. The "bridal portal" on the south side is from the 13th century. Its carved tops (capitals) have flower designs. The south entrance to the great chapel is the most detailed. Its unique decorations, with many small spires, are similar to those found in Strasbourg Cathedral and Cologne Cathedral.
Inside Features
The main area (nave) and two side aisles form a hall church. The aisles are a bit lower and narrower than the nave. The last part of the nave is a few steps higher, and the square chancel is a few more steps higher. The walls and arched ceilings (vaults) are covered with yellowish plaster. The stone pillars and vault ribs are visible. Four pairs of pillars support the vaults.
Because the church has been changed many times, the inside looks varied. One pillar still has a round arch from the very first building. The tops of the pillars (capitals) are also different, some from the earliest building phase and some from the 19th-century renovation. All the vaults in the church are groin vaults (where two barrel vaults meet).
The great chapel is its own separate room with three sections of equal height. It connects to the rest of the church through a pointed arch. The center stones of the vaults have carvings of the Lamb of God, the head of Christ, and flowers. The capitals and corbels (supports) in the great chapel are also richly decorated with Gothic carvings.
Cathedral Furnishings
The main altarpiece (the decorated screen behind the altar) was put in place in 1905 and designed by Axel Haig. It is in a Gothic revival style. It shows the Adoration of the Magi (the wise men visiting baby Jesus) in the middle. On the sides, it has pictures of Saint Nicholas, Catherine of Vadstena, Bridget of Sweden, and Saint Olaf. An older altarpiece from the 1500s, which used to be in the cathedral, is now in Källunge Church.
A large cross from the 1400s, which was once in the cathedral, is now in the Gotland Museum. 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) is from 1684. It was a gift from a German trader who became mayor of Visby. A nativity scene, displayed every Christmas, was made in 1981.
All the windows of the cathedral probably had medieval stained glass at one point, but none of it remains. The three stained glass windows in the east wall of the chancel were installed in 1892. They were made in Munich and inspired by medieval stained glass in Bourges Cathedral. 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 is from 1599 and has been restored. It is located on the west gallery above the nave. The "large organ" is from 1892. Two smaller, modern organs are also in the church. The organ in the great chapel was originally built for Klinte Church in 1870. The church also has a harpsichord and a carillon (a set of bells) with 45 bells from 1960.
Visby Cathedral also has many old tombstones and memorials. The oldest dates back to the 1300s. These include the grave of Eric, son of King Albert. There are also memorials for the sinking of a Danish-Lübeck fleet in 1566, the Swedish 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.
Use and Importance
Visby Cathedral belongs to the Church of Sweden and is where the Bishop of Visby works. It is a protected historical building in Sweden. The cathedral is one of the most popular places for tourists to visit on Gotland. In 2008, over 205,000 people visited it.
See also
- List of church ruins on Gotland
- List of medieval churches on Gotland
