Gammelstads Kyrkstad in Luleå during summer

Gammelstad Church Town

Just outside Luleå you will find Gammelstad Church Town, one of Sweden’s World Heritage Sites on UNESCO’s list of places worth preserving. Gammelstad actually used to be Luleå’s town centre up until the 17th century. Then, land uplift made the Gammelstad harbour too shallow, which meant that in 1649 the town had to be moved closer to the coast.

Luleå’s history began in Gammelstad. It was mainly the church, the largest late medieval stone church in Northern Sweden that served as a gathering place for the locals. Amazingly, the church was built in 1492, and is still standing to this day in the very same place. Church cottages were built to house church goers who came from far away, as regular church attendance was mandated by law in Sweden.

Today, there are over 400 church cottages preserved in Gammelstad Church Town and the tradition of staying overnight lives on.

You can also find more information about Gammelstad Church Town and the Open-air Museum Hägnan at visitgammmelstad.se.

World Heritage Site Gammelstad Church Town

Nederluleå Church

Gammelstads Kyrkstad is a UNESCOs World Heritage Site

Gammelstad Visitor Center

Photo spots in Gammelstad

Till Guidning I Gstad Foto Susanne Lindholm

Guided tour of Gammelstad Church Town

Do you want to learn more about Gammelstad Church Town? Why it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and why there are over 400 red church cottages in the area? Have you always wondered how a cottage looks like on the inside and what life was like in the church town? Then you should join for an exciting tour of the largest and most well-preserved church town in the world.

Open-air Museum Hägnan

The Open-air Museum Hägnan, located a stone’s throw from the church town, is well worth a visit when you are in Gammelstad. At Hägnan, you will get to see what life was like in a coastal village in this region between the 18th and 20th centuries. The museum contains buildings from all over Swedish Lapland, offering a rich, varied selection of activi ties and experiences for all ages. After enjoying a Swedish fika, a light snack and a beverage, at the Kafé Fägnan, a stroll through the outdoor museum will do you good. Or you could bring your own picnic basket and sit down on the grass. There is a lot to see and you mustn’t miss the store, where you will get to go back in time. The pigs, the goats, the rabbits and the hens are also popular amongst our younger visitors.