World Heritage Photos

Church Village of Gammelstad, Luleå: The Church Village of Gammelstad is situated in Luleå, a city on the east coast of Sweden and the capital city of Norrbotten, the northernmost county of Sweden. Luleå is situated on the Gulf of Bothnia. A church village is a collection of cottages and stables grouped around a parish church. The cottages of a church village were built by farmers as an overnight accommodation in connection with church services and religious feasts. The cottages were only used for temporary overnight stays. The cottages of the Church Village of Gammelstad were built around the Nederluleå Church in the 15th century. Most of the cottages are single-room cottages intended for one family. There are 408 wooden cottages in the church village, most of them are painted with Falu-red paint, the traditional Swedish deep red paint known for its use on wooden cottages and barns. The Church Village of Gammelstad in Luleå is the largest and best preserved church village of Sweden, it is also the best preserved example of a church village in the world. The Church Village of Gammelstad in Luleå gained the status as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1996.

www.werelderfgoedfotos.nl   © Copyright   World Heritage Photos

➔

➔

1. 

   Church Town of Gammelstad, Luleå: The Northern Churchgate and the Bethel Chapel. A church town is a collection of cottages and stables grouped around a parish church, the small cottages were built as overnight accommodation in connection with church services and religious feasts, the cottages were only used for temporary overnight stays. The Church Town of Gammelstad in Luleå was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 1996.

2. 

   Church Town of Gammelstad in Luleå: The Nederluleå, or the Lower Luleå Church. The Russian threat was still felt at the end of the 15th century, therefore the Nederluleå had to act both as a church and as a place of refuge for people and livestock, therefore, the church is surrounded by a stone wall. Cottages were built by farmers around the Nederluleå Church in the 15th century, the cottages were only used for temporary overnight stays. 

3. 

   Church Town of Gammelstad, Luleå: The east gable of the Nederluleå Church with a brick relief and a loop-hole. The Nederluleå Church (Lower Luleå) is the largest medieval church in northern Sweden. The Nederluleå was built in the 15th century, the surrounding wall has two gatehouses, the northern gate has been preserved in its original state. The church was used as a fortification in times of unrest.

4. 

   Church Town of Gammelstad in Luleå: The interior of the Nederluleå Church. The Nederluleå Church has a very rich interior. The late-medieval frescoes were painted over the 18th century and uncovered again in 1909. The altar screen, with wooden figures recounting the story of the Passion, was built in Antwerp around 1520. The richly decorated pulpit of the Nederluleå dates back to the early 18th century. Some of the church pews are medieval.

5. 

   Church Town of Gammelstad, Luleå: A group of children after their Confirmation Ceremony in the Swedish Lutheran Church, the well preserved Northern Churchgate of the church town in the background. During the tradional confirmation classes, the children stay overnight in the small cottages of the church town in Luleå. The Confirmation Ceremony was celebrated during the traditional Swedish Midsummer Festival.

6. 

   Church Town of Gammelstad, Luleå: The church stables were used for housing horses during church services, the stables previously stood in compact rows behind the church cottages and also along the outskirts of the church town of Gammelstad. After World War II, many church stables disappeared and several of them were used for firewood. Nowadays, only six church stables are preserved.

7. 

   Church Town of Gammelstad, Luleå: A room in one of the tiny cottages. Most of the cottages in the church town are single-room houses intended for one family. There are 408 cottages in the Church Town of Gammelstad, Luleå. Luleå has the largest and best preserved old church town of Sweden and the world's best preserved example of a church town. Most of the tiny wooden cottage are closed to visitors. An exhibition cottage is situated at the road Främlänningsvagen.

8. 

   Church Town of Gammelstad in Luleå: A toddler dressed in Swedish traditional costume in front of the Nederluleå Church during the Midsummer Festival. Several inhabitants of the town were dressed up in traditional Swedish costume, this is a tradition during the Midsummer Festival. The UNESCO World Heritage Site Church Town of Gammelstad at Luleå includes the Nederluleå Church, also the Lower Luleå Church, and the surrounding wooden cottages of the church town.

9. 

   The traditional Midsummer Festival in the Church Town of Gammelstad at Luleå in Sweden. At Midsummer, the Swedish people celebrate the summer solstice and the start of the summer season. During Midsummer, a lot of people wear traditional costumes, girls wear flower crowns in their hair and young and old dance and sing around the maypole. Although originally a pagan feast, the Midsummer Festival is still one of the most celebrated national holidays of Sweden.

10. 

    Church Town of Gammelstad, Luleå: A small village of tiny wooden houses in northern Sweden. The cottages of the Church Town of Gammelstad in Luleå were built in the 15th century. Only inhabitants of Luleå are allowed to buy one of the tiny wooden houses in the church town. The Church Town of Gammelstad, Luleå was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996. The Church Town is a UNESCO World Heritage where people live and work.