Vaksala Church, Church in Uppsala Municipality, Sweden
Vaksala Church is a medieval church building located a short way outside central Uppsala, Sweden. It has a tall stone tower, a main nave with older and newer sections, and two small side chapels that were added later.
The first parts of the building, including the tower and the western end, were put up during the 1100s. Over the following centuries the building grew larger and took on a more Gothic shape, and in 1692 the current spire was placed on the tower.
Inside, visitors can look at wall paintings from the 1300s that were hidden under layers of paint for a long time and brought back into view during the 1900s. The large carved wooden piece behind the altar also shows scenes that are linked to a local celebration called Vaksaladagen.
The building is easy to reach from the main road into Uppsala, and the tall tower makes it visible from a distance. Inside, the floor can be uneven in places and the light is soft, so take your time when moving around.
A bench known as a bishop’s seat from the 1100s still stands along the north wall of the choir, making it the oldest object in the building. The large altarpiece was made in Antwerp around 1510 and shipped from what is now Belgium to this spot.
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