Holy Spirit Church Ruins

Visby, Sweden

The Holy Spirit (Helgeand) Church, sometimes incorrectly mentioned as St. James, was built in the early 1200s. It was probably constructed as a chapel for the Danish Guild and donated by the Danish King Valdemar. In the mid-1200s the guild lost its importance and the church was sacrified as Holy Spirit Church and it also functioned as a sanctuary. The church is octagonal and built on two floors. Both floors have a common choir.

The original central tower collapsed around 1365 and Johannes van Wese donated 100 mark to the reconstruction. The church was was destroyed by fire in 1611. The church ruins are open to visitors in summer season.

References:

Wikipedia

Address

Hospitalsgatan 3, Visby, Sweden

See all sites in Visby

Details

Founded: ca. 1200
Category: Miscellaneous historic sites in Sweden
Historical period: Consolidation (Sweden)

More Information

www.visbysweden.com

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Roma Abbey Ruins (17,1 km)
Hejde Church (25,8 km)
Lummelunda Ironworks (12,3 km)
Mästerby Church (19,3 km)
Follingbo Church (8,5 km)
Roma Church (15,4 km)
Väte Church (21,9 km)
Endre Church (10,6 km)
Stenkumla Church (10,8 km)

User Reviews

Nik (3 years ago)
Ruin with an octagonal plan

Vilgot Björling (4 years ago)
Very unique and neat church ruin which also has narrow passages inside the walls of the ruin. The church was even built with two floors.

Igor Fabjan (5 years ago)
another piece of past

Martin Borgenby (6 years ago)
Cozy ruin worth a visit. Wear good shoes if you are going up the stairs.

Martin Diviš (6 years ago)
Amazing monuments of the history and glory of the city of Visby with its rich medieval past.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Photo from Flickr, copyright caminanteK

Historic Site of the week

Château de Foix

The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.

In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians.