Lye Church

Lye Church is a medieval limestone church with grey walls and dressed stone details that blend Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles. The building features four entrance portals and is topped by a substantial tower that rises above the main body of the structure.

Construction began in the late 12th century with the nave, followed by the tower added during the first half of the 13th century. This gradual expansion combined early and late medieval influences into a single structure.

The interior houses an outstanding collection of medieval stained glass windows from northern Europe that fills the space with colored light and biblical scenes. The wall paintings uncovered in the 1950s reveal the artistic intentions of earlier generations who decorated these walls.

The church stands about 300 meters south of the main road running between Hemse and Ljugarn, making it easy to locate along this route. A low stone wall encloses the surrounding cemetery, providing clear boundaries to the sacred grounds.

The Gothic chancel portal displays stone sculptures created by the Egypticus workshop, while the tower portal showcases Romanesque sculptures by the artist Sigraf. These two different artistic hands document distinct periods of workshop craftsmanship active in the region.

Location: Gotland Municipality

Website: https://svenskakyrkan.se/garde/lye-kyrka

GPS coordinates: 57.29792,18.52636

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:24