Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sigtuna
Just 40km northwest of Stockholm, Sigtuna is one of the cutest, most historically relevant
villages in the area. Founded around AD 980, it's the oldest surviving town in Sweden,
and the main drag, Storagatan, is very likely Sweden's oldest main street.
Around the year 1000, Olof Skötkonung ordered the minting of Sweden's first coins in
the town, and ancient church ruins and rune stones are scattered everywhere. Indeed, there
are about 150 runic inscriptions in the area, most dating from the early 11th century and
typically flanking ancient roads.
Most of Sigtuna's original buildings went up in flames in devastating late-medieval
fires, but the main church survived and many of the quaint streets and wooden abodes still
follow the medieval town plan.
Sights
Mariakyrkan
CHURCH
( 9am-5pm)
During medieval times, Sigtuna boasted seven stone-built churches, though most have
since crumbled. Mariakyrkan is the oldest brick building in the area; it was a Dominican
monastery church from around 1250 but became the parish church in 1529 after the mon-
astery was demolished by Gustav Vasa. Pop in for restored medieval paintings and free
weekly concerts in summer.
The adjacent St Olof church was built in the early 12th century, but by the 17th century
it was a ruin. Nearby, the ruins of St Per and St Lars can be seen off Prästgatan.
Sigtuna Museum
MUSEUM
(
08-5912 6670;
www.sigtunamuseum.se
; Storagatan 55; adult/child Skr20/free;
noon-4pm Tue-
Sun)
This museum looks after several attractions in the town and has a small exhibition area; it's
currently closed for renovations, but you can see some of the exhibits at the
rådhus
.
