Stockholm Religious buildings
Many of Stockholm's religious buildings are truly majestic. Built in times when the way you built a church determined the relationship to your creator, others have been built in our own time as a reminder of a foreign home. They breathe history, and show a passion for the faiths they represent. Many houses of worship stand side by side in Stockholm, and religious tolerance runs deep in the city. A day spent wandering great halls, seeing historic monuments and hearing fantastic stories is never a day wasted.
Here is a selection of religious buildings worth a visit. They have been listed with a short introduction and link to make finding a particular one as easy as possible.
Many of Stockholm's religious buildings are truly majestic. Built in times when the way you built a church determined the relationship to your creator, others have been built in our own time as a reminder of a foreign home. They breathe history, and show a passion for the faiths they represent. Many houses of worship stand side by side in Stockholm, and religious tolerance runs deep in the city. A day spent wandering great halls, seeing historic monuments and hearing fantastic stories is never a day wasted.
Here is a selection of religious buildings worth a visit. They have been listed with a short introduction and link to make finding a particular one as easy as possible.
Adolf Fredrik's Church
The church was founded in 1768 by the king Adolf Fredrik and is shaped like a Greek cross. It is one of Sweden's foremost relics from the Gustavian era. The late prime minister Olof Palme, who was murdered on the streets of Stockholm in 1986, lies buried there. The interior has changed over the years but the alter and a few more items remain from the 18th century. The church is located in the centre of town.
General informationAddress: Holländargatan 16
Phone: +46 (0)8 20 70 76
Subway: Hötorget
Homepage: www.adolffredrik.nu/
Storkyrkan, the Cathedral
This church is first mentioned in writing in 1279 and became a Lutheran Protestant church in 1527 and is today the cathedral of Stockholm. The interior holds many unique artefacts; the most famous is the statue of S:t George and the Dragon made in wood by Bernt Notke in 1489.
View inside the Cathedral
The gothic interiors of Storkyrkan (the Great Church) date back to the 1280ies, but numerous additions have been made since and the present exterior is from the middle of the 18th century.
The numerous sights inside the church include the magnificent altar in ebony and silver from 1650, the ornate 17th century royal pews and the famous statue of St.George and the Dragon, a wooden sculpture carved by Bernt Notke in 1489 and regarded as one of the finest medieval monuments in Scandinavia. The statue is an allegory over the battle of Brunkeberg in 1471, when an army led by Sweden's chancellor Sten Sture defeated a Danish army.
On one wall hangs the oldest known oil painting showing medieval Stockholm. Another noteworthy work of art is Ehrenstrahl's gigantic canvas depicting heaven and hell.
Admission charged during summertime.
General information
Address: Trångsund 1, Gamla stan
Phone: +46(0)8 723 30 16
Bus: 2, 3, 43, 53, 55, 59, 76
Subway: Gamla stan
Homepage: www.stockholmsdomkyrkoforsamling.se
The Catholic Church of St. Eugenia
This is a relatively modern church and the congregation takes pride in the fact that there was no intentional "theme" from the beginning. The theme for the church grew out of necessity and the dictating circumstances and was finally called "living stones". The idea was that the church was not to be a museum, but rather a place of living worship for the congregation and everything in it therefore serves a purpose. It has a living and breathing atmosphere that definitely makes it worth seeing.
General information
Address: Kungsträdgårdsgatan 12
Phone: +46 (0)8 505 780 00
Subway: Kungsträdgården
Homepage: http://www.sanktaeugenia.se/
General information
Address: Trångsund 1, Gamla stan
Phone: +46(0)8 723 30 16
Bus: 2, 3, 43, 53, 55, 59, 76
Subway: Gamla stan
Homepage: www.stockholmsdomkyrkoforsamling.se
The Catholic Church of St. Eugenia
This is a relatively modern church and the congregation takes pride in the fact that there was no intentional "theme" from the beginning. The theme for the church grew out of necessity and the dictating circumstances and was finally called "living stones". The idea was that the church was not to be a museum, but rather a place of living worship for the congregation and everything in it therefore serves a purpose. It has a living and breathing atmosphere that definitely makes it worth seeing.
General informationAddress: Kungsträdgårdsgatan 12
Phone: +46 (0)8 505 780 00
Subway: Kungsträdgården
Homepage: http://www.sanktaeugenia.se/
Engelbrektskyrkan
This church is a unique specimen in Stockholm. It was finished in 1914, and is sometimes called "Bergskyrkan" which roughly translates to "Rock/Mountain Church" because it's built on a rocky hill and almost seems to be growing out of it. It gives a majestic impression, sitting on a pedestal in the middle of the the city, ever reaching towards the sky. Both the interior and
exterior show that there was an extraordinary amount of imagination put into the creation of the building.General information
Address: Östermalmsgatan 20B
Phone: +46 (0)8 406 98 00
Subway: Tekniska Högskolan
Homepage: Engelbrekt (Swedish only)
Finska Kyrkan
This is the oldest building on this particular street. It was built in the 17th century and has since 1725 been the place where the Finnish congregation hold their services. There is something rather funny about the fact that it's housed in the "Small Ball House", which anyone with a bit of slapstick humor or just a Freudian wit might appreciate. Unfortunately the Small Ball House got it's name for purely practical purposes, it was used as a ball house before it was reborn as a church. That doesn't make it any less funny though.
This is the oldest building on this particular street. It was built in the 17th century and has since 1725 been the place where the Finnish congregation hold their services. There is something rather funny about the fact that it's housed in the "Small Ball House", which anyone with a bit of slapstick humor or just a Freudian wit might appreciate. Unfortunately the Small Ball House got it's name for purely practical purposes, it was used as a ball house before it was reborn as a church. That doesn't make it any less funny though.
Jokes aside, this is a really interesting church that feels historical and meaningful. Many wise words have been spoken here and the Finnish are proud of the place for a reason. It is definitely worth a visit any day, but on Sundays you can catch a service in Finnish at 11 AM too.
General information
Address: Slottsbacken 2 C
Phone: +46 (0)8 20 61 40
Subway: Gamla Stan
The German Church
The building itself was originally headquarters to the St. Gertrud Guild, a collection of german sailors and m
erchants. It became a church in 1642, when a man named Jakob Kristler renovated the building and gave it the gothic style seen today. Worth mentioning is that a great fire in the 19th century burned the original Kristler tower down, and a newer, taller tower was erected. The church is sometimes called the "Devil Church" due to the small gargoyles on the tower. It can be found in the Old Town, towering over the otherwise small buildings.
The building itself was originally headquarters to the St. Gertrud Guild, a collection of german sailors and m
erchants. It became a church in 1642, when a man named Jakob Kristler renovated the building and gave it the gothic style seen today. Worth mentioning is that a great fire in the 19th century burned the original Kristler tower down, and a newer, taller tower was erected. The church is sometimes called the "Devil Church" due to the small gargoyles on the tower. It can be found in the Old Town, towering over the otherwise small buildings. General information
Address: Svartmangatan 16
Subway: Gamla Stan
Gustav Vasa Church
This is a church that is stepping into the 21st century with style. It has always had a tradition of doing things its own way. It opened in 1906 and caused a slight uproar due to the fact that the architect had dared mix different styles in the making and incorporated many details that "just didn't go together". In this day and age it might be harder to spot, mainly due to the fact that the Stockholm is more versatile and less sheltered now than back at the end of the 18th century. But of course any architect buff should be able to spot the inconsistencies.
Today the church is a well liked tourist attraction but also one of the few churches that holds services specifically for the Gay Community, on the third Sunday every month. As always, this church is stepping out of the box and into a better future. Leading the way and setting the trends instead of following them.
General information
Address: Karlbergsvägen
Phone: +46(0)8 508 88 600
Subway: Odenplan
St. Jacobs Church
This is a church which inspires ooohs and aaahs from start to finish. The magnificent interior and beautiful exterior make it a fascinating place to visit. This is also a "user friendly" church, which is kind enough to offer services in both Swedish and English for those interested. It opened in 1643 and the bustling city has since then grown around it. Since it's situated in the centre of the city it is easy to get to and adjacent to many other interesting sites.
General information
Address: Västra Trädgårdsgatan 2
Phone: +46/0)8 723 30 38
Subway: Kungsträdgården
Katarina Church
This church has a dramatic history, and it seems to have a good reason for not wanting to be around. It was built during the 17th century, by order of the King. The location was a place where there have been churches since the 14th century, and thus the shoes were hard to fill out of a historical perspective. It stood there quietly for a few years, but in 1723, fire burnt the church to the ground, leaving nothing but ashes and a brick wall. The incident was seen as nothing but a horrible accident, the church was rebuilt over a few decades and the tragic fire slipped into the past. In 1990 however, fire ravaged the church once again, destroying everything.
Whichever way you look at it, it would seem that this was not the right place for this church. Regardless of this however, the church was rebuilt again, and opened 5 years later.
The whispers about this yellow and friendly looking church are many, but very few facts can be found. The secrets below the surface are there, just waiting to be discovered. Today it is mostly advertised as the place where Greta Garbo had her confirmation, so any way you want to see it, it's worth a visit.
General information
Address: Högbergsgatan 15
Phone: +46(0)8 743 68 00
Subway: Slussen
Homepage: www.svkyrkankatarina.com (Swedish only)
E-mail: info@svkyrkankatarina.com
Klara Church
Klara of Assisi (1194–1253) is the person this church is named after. She was a girl who ran away from her nobel Italian home at the tender age of 18 to join the Fransikan Order because of her conviction that she had been summoned by God. So why do we find her church in Sweden? Well, she started a group called the Klarrissas that at a later time spread to Sweden.
In the 13th century the group received money from a wealthy Swede and the Klara Convent was built, and that is where the church stands today. So much history in one place is a shame to miss.General information
Address: Klara Östra Kyrkogata 7
Subway: T-Centralen
St. Maria Magdalena Church
This church can be found on Södermalm in Stockholm, and has stood in the same place since 1625, which makes it the oldest church on the block. A number of famous Swedes are buried here, and there is an especially fascinating piece of art from around 1800 by Louis Masreliez on the alter. Located in a busy part of town, it stands out from the hectic environment and offers a sort of solace and unusual calm right in the middle of all the bustle.
General informationAddress: St. Paulsgatan 10
Phone: +46(0)8 462 29 40
Subway: Slussen
The Mosque
The building in which the Stockholm Mosque is now housed in is the former electrical power plant that was designed in 1903 by Swedish architect Ferdinand Boberg. Boberg was fascinated by Islamic themes, using green and white geometric tile work and high vaulted ceilings in the interior of the cavernous building from the very beginning. The building is not spectacular from the outside, since the city code prohibits buildings from "sticking out" too much, but the decorative touches that define a mosque can be found inside. Enormous crystal chandeliers hang from the ceilings and Islamic patterns can be seen etched by the vaulted windows. This is a popular tourist attraction as well as a beloved house of worship for the Muslims
of Stockholm.General information
Address: Kapellgränd 10
Phone: +46(0)8 509 109 00
Subway: Medborgarplatsen
Homepage: www.stockholmsmoske.org (Swedish only)
Palace Church
Want to go to church in style? Try the royal way in this church finished in the 18th century. The interior and long hall remind you of trumpets sounding and white horses carrying very important people to their destiny. Today the church is mainly used by the royal family on different church-requiring occasions and concerts. The church is open to the public with a service every Sunday, but if you don't adhere to the saying "no pain, no gain" then we suggest you bring a seat cushion.
General information
Address: Royal Palace
Phone: +46(0)8 402 61 30
Subway: Gamla Stan
Homepage: kungahuset.se
The Riddarholmen Church
This Swedish Pantheon has been the royal burial church for Swedish royalty and aristocracy for 700 years. It is the only remaining abbey church in Stockholm and was built in the late 1200s as a Grey friar monastery, beautifully located on the historical island of Riddarholmen.
Free admission to the Riddarholmen Church with the Stockholm à la Carte card!
General information
Address: Riddarholmen
Phone: +46(0)8 402 61 30
Bus: 3, 53
Subway: Gamla Stan
Homepage: www.kungahuset.se
Seglora Church
This is a completely wooden church that was originally built in 1729, and was moved from Västergötland to Skansen in 1916. This is a popular church for weddings and other such
activities and is often bustling with people. The interior is very Swedish, with a painted altarpiece and barrel-vaulted ceiling.
General information
Address: Skansen Djurgårdsslätten 49-51
Bus: 47 to Skansen
Subway: T-Centralen
Want to go to church in style? Try the royal way in this church finished in the 18th century. The interior and long hall remind you of trumpets sounding and white horses carrying very important people to their destiny. Today the church is mainly used by the royal family on different church-requiring occasions and concerts. The church is open to the public with a service every Sunday, but if you don't adhere to the saying "no pain, no gain" then we suggest you bring a seat cushion.
General informationAddress: Royal Palace
Phone: +46(0)8 402 61 30
Subway: Gamla Stan
Homepage: kungahuset.se
The Riddarholmen Church
This Swedish Pantheon has been the royal burial church for Swedish royalty and aristocracy for 700 years. It is the only remaining abbey church in Stockholm and was built in the late 1200s as a Grey friar monastery, beautifully located on the historical island of Riddarholmen.
Free admission to the Riddarholmen Church with the Stockholm à la Carte card!
General informationAddress: Riddarholmen
Phone: +46(0)8 402 61 30
Bus: 3, 53
Subway: Gamla Stan
Homepage: www.kungahuset.se
Seglora Church
This is a completely wooden church that was originally built in 1729, and was moved from Västergötland to Skansen in 1916. This is a popular church for weddings and other such
activities and is often bustling with people. The interior is very Swedish, with a painted altarpiece and barrel-vaulted ceiling.General information
Address: Skansen Djurgårdsslätten 49-51
Bus: 47 to Skansen
Subway: T-Centralen
The Great Synagogue
This synagogue is built in an oriental style, and seats 900 people. It is an official national historical building and was built in 1870. The synagogue is partly mixed seated and currently affiliated to the Conservative movement. Women and men on the right side of the bottom floor, only men on the left side, and only women upstairs.
This synagogue is built in an oriental style, and seats 900 people. It is an official national historical building and was built in 1870. The synagogue is partly mixed seated and currently affiliated to the Conservative movement. Women and men on the right side of the bottom floor, only men on the left side, and only women upstairs.
General information
Address: Wahrendorffsgatan 3
Phone: +46(0)8 587 858 00
Subway: Kungsträdgården
Homepage: www.jf-stockholm.org
Address: Wahrendorffsgatan 3
Phone: +46(0)8 587 858 00
Subway: Kungsträdgården
Homepage: www.jf-stockholm.org
