Kärnbo ödekyrka, Medieval church ruin in Mariefreds stad, Sweden.
Kärnbo is a church ruin with Romanesque stone walls and an apse, standing on a hill north of Gripsholm Royal Estate. The structure shows expansions from the 16th century, when a porch section was added to the original form.
The building was constructed in the late 12th century and expanded over time. After Mariefred was granted town privileges in 1605, the structure gradually ceased to serve as a church.
The name Kärnbo refers to an ancient chapel that once occupied this site. Visitors can sense the long-abandoned religious purpose in the walls and find an 11th-century runestone still embedded near the entrance area.
The ruin sits on a hill that is accessible on foot and can be visited at any time. The site is occasionally used for religious ceremonies such as weddings and baptisms, so check ahead if events are scheduled.
After Mariefred became a town, iron from the sacristy windows was salvaged and melted down to make nails for a new church building. This material was repurposed, carrying a hidden history within it.
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