The construction of defensive tower, the oldest part of Hulterstad Church, was completed around the year 1200. There are also some remains of older building from the early 1100’s below the ground. In 1803 the church was reconstructed to the present, single-nave and rectangular shape.
The interior originates from several centuries. Oldest artefacts are the baptismal font and the painted consecration cross from Middle Ages. Mural paintings in arches were painted in the 1600s. The large bell was made in 1631 by Jurgen Putensen. The organs date from 1867, designed by L. Hedin. In 1676 the royal warship wrecked outside Hulterstad and a most of the crew were buried in the cemetery.
There is a small museum in one of the tower's floors including some runestones. Some stones have been found under the tower's ground floor.
References:The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.
The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.
The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.