Page 65 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sweden

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5 Storkyrkan
Trångsund 1. Map 3 B3. Tel 08­723
30 00.  Gamla Stan. @ 2, 55.
Open 9am–4pm daily (extended
hours in summer). 5 11am Sun. &
8 = 7 ∑ storkyrkan.nu
Stockholm’s 700­year­old
cathedral is of great national
religious importance. It was
from here that the Swedish
reformer Olaus Petri (1493–1552)
spread his Lutheran message
around the kingdom. It is also
used for royal ceremonies.
Originally, a small village
church was built on this site
in the 13th century, probably
by the city’s founder Birger Jarl.
It was replaced in 1306 by a
much bigger basilica, St
Nicholas, which was altered
over the centuries.
The Gothic character of the
interior, acquired in the 15th
century, was revealed in 1908
when, during restoration work,
plaster was removed from the
pillars, exposing the characteristic
red tiling. The Late Baroque Storkyrkan’s façade in Italian Baroque style, seen from Slottsbacken
period provided the so­called
“royal chairs” and the pulpit, The cathedral houses some is the silver altar, which was a
while the façade was adapted to priceless artistic treasures, gift from the diplomat Johan
bring it into keeping with the including St George and the Adler Salvius in the 1650s.
rest of the area around the Royal Dragon, regarded as one of the The pews nearest to the
Palace. The 66­m (216­ft) high finest late Gothic works of art in chancel, the “royal chairs”, were
tower, added in 1743, has four Northern Europe. The sculpture, designed by Nicodemus Tessin
bells, the largest of which weighs situated to the left of the altar, the Younger
about 6 tons. was carved from oak and moose in 1684 to be
horn by Lübeck used by royalty
sculptor Bernt on special
Notke. Unveiled occasions. In
in 1489, it com­ 1705, the pulpit
mem orates Sten was installed
Sture the Elder’s above the grave
victory over the of Olaus Petri.
Danes in 1471 On 20 April
(see p39). 1535, a light
The Last phenomenon
Judgment (1696) was observed Storkyrkan’s silver
is a massive over Stockholm altar (detail)
Baroque painting – six rings with
by David Klöcker sparkling solar halos. The
von Ehrenstrahl. Parhelion Painting, recalling the
The 3.7­m (12­ft) event, hangs in Storkyrkan and
high bronze is thought to be the oldest
candelabra portrayal of the capital. It shows
before the altar the modest skyline dominated
has adorned the by the cathedral, at that time
cathedral for still the basilica of St Nicholas.
some 600 years. In 2010, the cathedral under­
One of the went a large­scale renovation
The sculpture St George and the Dragon by Bernt Notke cathedral’s most ahead of the wedding of Crown
(1489) in Storkyrkan prized treasures Princess Victoria.

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