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Church · Kalmar, Kalmar
Kalmar domkyrka e Kvarnholmen
Kalmar’s baroque cathedral, designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Elder, in the centre of the island of Kvarnholmen, the planned 17th-century town with a grid of streets and stone and wooden houses.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Kalmar domkyrka e Kvarnholmen
After a fire and wars with Denmark in the 17th century, the town of Kalmar was moved from the castle side to the island of Kvarnholmen beside it. The new town was laid out with straight, grid streets, surrounded by walls of which some sections and bastions remain, and with the main square, Stortorget, at its centre.
On that square stands Kalmar domkyrka, the cathedral, built between 1660 and 1703 to a design by Nicodemus Tessin the Elder, the architect of Drottningholm Palace. It is an Italian-inspired baroque church, nearly cruciform in plan, with four low towers at the corners and pale stone facades. Inside, the nave is wide, white and bright, with a baroque altar and pulpit in gilded wood, designed by Tessin the Younger, the architect’s son. It was a cathedral until 1915 and retains the name.
Around the cathedral, Kvarnholmen can be walked in a short time. The square houses the town hall and merchant houses; on Larmgatan, Storgatan and Kaggensgatan there are shops and cafés. The southern side has the wall of Bastion Kronan and the harbour, with views of the Öland bridge.
The cathedral often hosts organ and choir concerts.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 30 minutes in the cathedral to 1h30 including a walk around Kvarnholmen.
Best time
During the day, outside service times. In summer the old town is livelier and cafés put tables on the street. Check the cathedral’s opening times.
How to get there
The cathedral is on Stortorget square, in Kvarnholmen, a 5-minute walk from Kalmar train station.
Tip
Enter the cathedral and see the gilded altar. Then walk to the harbor and the bastion on the south side of the island to see the Öland bridge.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Kalmar domkyrka e Kvarnholmen
Is Kalmar Cathedral still a cathedral?
It has not been the seat of a bishop since 1915, but it retains the name cathedral.
Who designed the cathedral?
Nicodemus Tessin the Elder, the same architect of the Palácio de Drottningholm, near Estocolmo.
What is Kvarnholmen?
The island where the historic center of Kalmar is located, planned in the 17th century with a grid of streets.