Granhult Old Church

"This is the oldest wooden church in Sweden. The bell tower is the classic design, and the details of the wooden shingles on the church are interesting— some are functional , to help move rain away from doors or walls. You approach the churchyard / cemetery through a small separate building constructed in the stone wall—but if it’s locked and you want to enter, just to the right of the entrance the wall itself provides steps up and then down into the area. The oldest stones in the burial ground are simple upright pieces of granite.

The church was open, so we went inside. What a treat. The walls and ceiling are covered with artwork. Even a small meeting room off to the left near the pulpit was open and had such paintings. These were done in the 1700s, almost 500 years after the church was first built.

The colors were muted, perhaps because of their age but my sense was that this was the way they were intended.

Beautiful and very special. The story of the preservation of the church is also noteworthy. In the 1830s the Bishop, with agreement from the king, decided that the church was not needed and should be torn down. But the parishioners disagreed and stubbornly resisted. They eventually won—they could keep their church but use it for grain storage. Almost 50 years later they were allowed to have services in it again.

Well worth the short detour off the main road. We were there late afternoon on the Sunday of after Midsommar. Two other couples were leaving,so we alone.There is no admission fee but donations are accepted in a box on the back wall by a visitor book."

Cynthia Bloomquist

"Very cool and worth the detour! The wall and ceiling paintings inside are especially fascinating to see."

Oskar Ehrnberg

"Verry pretty, small wooden church. Definetly worth a visit."

Joss Ouly Poté