Churches in Sweden - 25 very beautiful Swedish churches

There are plenty of churches in Sweden! In fact, there are around 3500 church buildings in our country. Some are almost a thousand years old, and others are special because of their design. We have listed 25 churches in Sweden that we think are particularly beautiful, both inside and out.

Churches in Sweden

As we've travelled around and written about destinations in Sweden, we've also taken the opportunity to look at castles, castle ruins, fortresses and beautiful churches in Sweden. It hasn't been easy to choose, but here are our 25 favourite Swedish churches. We haven't had time to see them all, but in 2022 we will see a few more.

1. Lund Cathedral in Skåne, Sweden

Built in the 12th century, Lund Cathedral is almost a thousand years old. The church was built in the Romanesque style by stonemasons from the Rhine and Italy.

On the left inside the main entrance you can see the large astronomical clock, which after restoration is once again working. The clock dates back to 1422-1425, when Queen Filippa was governor of Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

The church also contains a crypt, which has remained largely untouched since 1123. There are many columns, the most famous being the one that, according to legend, is embraced by the giant Finn. According to some, however, the column actually represents the biblical Samson.

2. Kiruna church in Lapland

Kiruna Church was designed by architect Gustaf Wickman (1858-1916), and was inaugurated in 1912 by Bishop Olof Berqvist. The church is one of the largest wooden buildings in Sweden and has a unique neo-gothic appearance, inspired by the Norwegian stave churches. The building looks almost square, and in this way is somewhat reminiscent of a so-called central church.

Inside, this Swedish church has a National Romantic style. The altarpiece, which depicts a sunlit landscape, was painted by Prince Eugene. There are two bells in the belfry, and the larger one has an engraved verse stanza of Albert Engström.

3. Habo church on Lake Vättern

Habo Church is a stunningly beautiful wooden church in Västergötland, on the border with Småland. There has been a church in Habo since the Middle Ages, but the church that exists today was built in the 17th century, and in 1723 it was given its current appearance. The church has sometimes been called 'the wooden cathedral by Lake Vättern' or 'the painterly wooden cathedral'. 

The interior of the church is decorated with fantastic paintings, executed in 1741-1743 by the artists Johan Kinnerus and Johan Christian Peterson. The paintings illustrate, among other things, the Ten Commandments, the Creed and the Lord's Prayer.

Parts of the interior are even older than the church itself. For example, the baptismal font is from the 12th century and the altar from the 14th century. On the altarpiece, which dates from 1723, there is a ticking clock, and every hour the boy above strikes it with his hammer.

4. Vindeln church in Västerbotten

Vindeln Church, formerly known as Norra Degerfors Church, was designed by city architect Fredrik Olaus Lindström and inaugurated in 1903 by Bishop Martin Johansson. The previous church, which stands next door, had become too small for the population and so the new church building was needed. The church is built in an austere and beautiful neo-Gothic style.

Inside the church is a 17th century pulpit, originally from Backenkyrkan in Umeå.

5. Katarina Church in Stockholm

Katarina Church on Södermalm in Stockholm was first completed in 1695, but has twice suffered severe fires and had to be partially rebuilt.

The church was built between 1656 and 1695 to the designs of the architect Jean de la Vallée. It was named after Princess Catherine, the mother of Charles X Gustav.

The first fire occurred in 1723, and when the church was rebuilt it was given a larger tower with eight edges. The second fire, in 1990, caused the church tower to collapse and fall through the vault. When the church was restored again, the same techniques as in the 17th century were used.

6. Själevad's church outside Örnsköldsvik.

Själevad's church is located in Själevad outside of Örnsköldsvik. This octagonal church in neoclassical style was inaugurated in 1880. In 1998 it was named Sweden's most beautiful church in the magazine "Året runt" and in 2020 it received the same honour in the magazine "Dagen".

The church is decorated both inside and out with columns, and the ceiling has a dome that was added during a renovation in 1923. In 2007, a new Grönlund organ, made in Gammelstad outside Luleå, was inaugurated. The organ has 42 voices and 4600 pipes.

7. Riddarholmskyrkan on Riddarholmen island

Riddarholm Church is Stockholm's only preserved medieval monastery church. Construction of the church began in the late 13th century by Franciscan monks, or Grey Friars as they were known in Sweden.

Magnus Ladulås, who was King of Sweden from 1275 to 1290, wrote in his will that he wanted to be buried here, and this probably influenced the church to become as lavish and powerful as it did.

With the exception of Queen Kristina, all Swedish rulers from Gustav II Adolf to Gustaf V are buried in Riddarholm Church. The medieval kings Magnus Ladulås and Karl Knutsson Bonde are also buried here. A total of 17 Swedish monarchs and their families are buried in the church, in several different tombs and vaults.

The church also houses the so-called 'Seraphim shields', which have been hung here since 1748. Every time a Seraphim knight dies, the shield is hung here and the church bell is rung.

8. Ytterlännäs Old Church outside Kramfors.

Ytterlännäs Old Church was built around the 13th century and is dedicated to St George. At the end of the 15th century, the choir was enlarged and the sacristy and porch were built. The narrow and high Romanesque front door, now in the porch, is part of the original interior and is considered the oldest door in Ångermanland.

In the 15th century, the vaults and walls were decorated with ceiling paintings. The altar cabinet was made around 1470-1480. The church's Madonna was made in the early 16th century.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the population increased and the old church was abandoned in favour of a new one. In the 20th century, careful restoration work has returned the medieval church to some of its former character.

9. Uppsala Cathedral in Uppland, Sweden

Uppsala Church is Sweden's largest church. Along with Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim and St Mary's Cathedral in Gdansk it is the largest in the entire Baltic Sea region.

Uppsala Cathedral is a Gothic-style cathedral inaugurated in 1435, with St Erik, St Lars and St Olof as its patrons.

The Church of Sweden estimates that around half a million people visit Uppsala Cathedral every year. The church houses St Erik's relics in Erik's box and a relic of St Birgitta in a silver box in the Finstakoret. A number of famous people are also buried here, including Gustav Vasa, Johan III, Magnus Stenbock, Emanuel Swedenborg and Carl Linnaeus.

The Cathedral Museum Treasury contains unique gold and silver textiles and artefacts used in cathedral services. 

10. Härkeberga church in Enköping

Härkeberga Church is located just outside Enköping and is part of the Uppsala Diocese. The main part of the church was built in the early 14th century. The porch was added in the 15th century and the bell tower is from the 17th century.

The church is best known for its stunning frescoes. Most have never been painted over and are therefore exceptionally well preserved.

The paintings were probably created around the 1480s and are thought to have been made by the church painter Albertus Pictor.

11. Skara Cathedral in Västergötland.

Skara Cathedral is the cathedral of the Diocese of Skara and one of the largest churches in Sweden. The church dates back to the 11th century, but the current high Gothic style is from the 14th century. What remains from the 11th century is the church's crypt, where the first bishops of the diocese rest.

Skara Cathedral, which is dedicated to St Mary, contains a number of art treasures. These include an 11th century altar vessel and a precious black marble and white alabaster tomb monument to the knight Erik Soop, dating from 1637. The stained glass windows with Bible stories were made by Bo Beskow.

12. The Great Church at Stockholm Castle

Storkyrkan, or St Nicolai's Church, is the cathedral of the Diocese of Stockholm and is located in Old Town. Kings have been crowned and royal marriages performed here since the 14th century.

During the summer months, more than 10,000 tourists visit Storkyrkan every day. It features magnificent royal chairs, once commissioned by Charles XI, and a grand Gustavian organ façade.

The church's main attraction is the wooden sculpture depicting St Göran and the dragon. Sten Sture the Elder commissioned the sculpture to honour his victory over the Union King Kristian I at the Battle of Brunkeberg in 1471. The sculpture was placed in the church in 1489.

13. Sofia Church in Stockholm

Sofia Church is located at the highest point of the White Mountains, in Södermalm, Stockholm. The church was designed by architect Gustaf Hermansson and built in the Rhenish Transitional Romanesque style.

The church, named after Oscar II's wife Sofia, was inaugurated in 1906. The building is a so-called centre church, with four equally long cross arms.

14. Bottnaryd's church in Småland.

Bottnaryd Church is located in Bottnaryd in Småland. In the 17th century an older medieval church was demolished and in 1667 the church building that can be seen today was built.

The interior of the church was painted in 1693-1695 by the church painter Anders Falck. The fantastic motifs on the walls are taken from both the Old and New Testaments. If you look up, you can see Jerusalem, the Last Judgement and Hell.

The baptismal font dates back to the 13th century, and the Ribbing tomb also houses a small church museum with various interesting artefacts.

15. Ekshärads church in Hagfors, Sweden.

Ekshärad's church is a chipboard church that was inaugurated in 1688 by Anders Larsson Rang from Filipstad.

Inside the church are artefacts from eight centuries. These include a 13th century baptismal font and a late medieval Madonna cabinet. The organ loft is adorned with a series of royal portraits, featuring kings from the time the church was built onwards.

16. Varnhem Abbey Church outside Skara.

In the 12th century, Varnhem Monastery was founded by a group of monks. The first church was badly damaged in a fire, but a new one was built by Birger Jarl. The church, built in the Young Gothic style, was consecrated in 1260 and was the largest church in Sweden at the time.

In the 16th century the church fell into disrepair, but in the 17th century Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie had it restored and made it his burial church.

In Varnhem Abbey Church you can see Birger Jarl's grave and the De la Gardie Memorial Hall. There is also a pulpit and an altarpiece from the 17th century.

Behind Varnhem's church is the ruin of a private farm church from the Viking Age. Here a grave has been opened with a skeleton of a woman from the 10th century.

17. Hälleviksstrand church on Orust Island

Hälleviksstrand church on Orust was built when the population of Morlanda parish grew and visitors could no longer fit in the old church. The architect was Adrian Peterson and the church was inaugurated in 1904 by Bishop Edvard Rodhe.

The architecture combines Norse, Neo-Romantic and Gothic Revival styles. Originally, there were also Norse-style details on the outside of the church, such as a dragon's head, but these were removed in 1929 because the wood was damaged.

18. Hedared stave church in Borås

Hedared's stave church is Sweden's only preserved medieval stave church. The church was built in the early 16th century.

Hedareds stavkyrka is a small single-aisle long church. Until 1600-1700, the church only had a dirt floor and no windows. When the church was rebuilt, windows, a wooden floor, bleachers and a pulpit were added.

The church's interior is intact from the 18th century, with stunning paintings by Johan Ehrenfrid.

19. St Mary's Cathedral in Visby.

St Mary's Cathedral in Visby was built in the Middle Ages. The first church was consecrated in 1225 by Bishop Bengt from Linköping. Shortly thereafter, the next stage of construction began, when the church was transformed into a so-called hall church. This new church building was completed between 1250 and 1260.

The Great Chapel and the Swerting Chapel were added in the 14th century. After the Reformation, the church was chosen as a city church and in 1572 it was elevated to a cathedral.

The interior of the church was renovated in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

20. Granhult church in Småland

Granhult Church in Småland is Sweden's oldest wooden church. However, the church, which dates from the 13th century, was in danger of being demolished in the 19th century. At this time, the population increased and new, larger churches were built. Esaias Tegnér advocated that the old medieval churches should be demolished, but the locals in Granhult fought for their church and thanks to this, the building remained standing, even though it was no longer used as a church.

Granhult's church has interiors that mainly date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. The altarpiece and crucifix, for example, were made by Torbern Röding in 1699. However, there is also a St Olaf cabinet and a Madonna sculpture from the 15th century.

Most of the paintings were made by the church decorator Johan Christian Zschotzscher in 1753, and depict motifs from the Book of Revelation.

21. the church of St Laurentii in Falkenberg.

St Laurentii's Church is Falkenberg's oldest building, with some parts remaining from the 14th century. During the 16th century the church was burned down, but it was rebuilt. The tower was added in the 18th century.

When Falkenberg When a new church was built in 1892, St Laurentii's was no longer used for church services, and instead the building was used as a gymnasium, tennis court and cinema.

In the 1920s, when the church was renovated, amazing wall and ceiling paintings from the 16th and 18th centuries were discovered.

22. Snöstorp church in Halmstad.

Snöstorp church in Halmstad is designed by Swedish architect Emil Viktor Langlet and was completed in 1883. The architect was inspired by Roman round churches, but instead gave Snöstorp Church a hexagonal shape. He was also influenced by Byzantine architecture, which explains the church's spires and towers.

The church's many furnishings include a trumpet angel from 1701 and a processional crucifix. In 2006, the church was voted Sweden's most beautiful church by readers of the magazine Året Runt.

23. Kalmar Cathedral in Småland.

Kalmar Cathedral was inaugurated in 1682 and is one of the most important Baroque buildings in Sweden. The church was designed by the architect Nicodemus Tessin the Elder, probably inspired by several different churches in the Italian capital of Rome.

Usually a cathedral is linked to a diocese, but this is not the case with Kalmar Cathedral. squid diocese ended in 1915, but although the church today belongs to the Växjö diocese, it still has a formal status as a cathedral.

Inside, the church is spacious with beautiful white arches and a magnificent altarpiece.

24. Dalby church in Lund

Dalby church, or Heligkorskyrkan, is located in Dalby south-east of Lund. The church was built around 1060, as a cathedral in connection with a new diocese in Denmark. This Scanian church is therefore Sweden's oldest building and the oldest preserved stone church in the Nordic countries.

Dalby's first and only bishop was Egino from Germany. When the bishop of Lund died a few years later, Engino was transferred there, and Dalby Church's time as a cathedral was over. Inside the church there are several interesting artefacts, such as a baptismal font from the 12th century.

25. St Olav's Church in Skåne, Sweden

St Olav's Church is a popular pilgrimage church among various Christian communities. The Skåne Blekinge pilgrimage trail passes through here, and is part of the long trail that connects the pilgrimage centres of Santiago de Compostela in Spain with Vadstena and Nidaros in Norway.

The oldest parts of the church were probably built in the late 12th or early 13th century. It was dedicated to St Olaf, the Norwegian King Olaf Haraldsson. The medieval church was originally called Lunkende, but adopted its current name in the 16th century.

Churches in Sweden - here are all of Sweden's 14 cathedrals

A cathedral is the church in a diocese where the bishop resides. The Church of Sweden has 13 dioceses (of which Uppsala is the archdiocese), yet there are 14 cathedrals. The reason is that Kalmar Diocese merged with Växjö Diocese in 1915, and Mariestad Cathedral has 'cathedral' in its name without being a cathedral.

• Gothenburg Cathedral
• Härnösand Cathedral
• Kalmar Cathedral
• Karlstad Cathedral
• Linköping Cathedral
• Luleå Cathedral
• Lund Cathedral
• Skara Cathedral
• Storkyrkan in Stockholm
• Strängnäs Cathedral
• Uppsala Cathedral
• Visby Cathedral
• Västerås Cathedral
• Växjö Cathedral

More facts about churches in Sweden

• Which church is the oldest? Dalby Church in Lund is a stone church from 1060.
• Which cathedral is the oldest? Skara Cathedral (cathedral) is the oldest from the year 1000.
• Which church has the biggest bell? Uppsala Cathedral's one bell weighs 7,360kg.
• Which church is the largest? Uppsala Cathedral is 118.95 long and 118.7 high.
• Which is Sweden's oldest church organ? In Morlanda church in Ellöv from 1603.
• Which wooden church is the oldest? Granhult wooden church in Småland from 1220.

More beautiful churches in Sweden that couldn't be accommodated

• Munsö church outside Stockholm
• Hedared's stave church outside Borås
• Vadstena abbey church in Vadstena
• Njutånger's church in Njutånger
• Nederluleå church and church town (UNESCO)
• Church of the Holy Cross in Ronneby
• Skellefteå National Assembly church

Have you visited any of these churches in Sweden?