Riddarholmen Church at a glance
Located near Gamla Stan, the old town of Stockholm, on the quiet little island of the knights, Riddarholmen Church is the only medieval religious building remaining in the capital. It served as the royal necropolis for Swedish monarchs until the 1950s. The island, fortified by Gustav Vasa, offers a view overlooking the famous City Hall. Do not miss the statue of the city founder, Duke Birger Jarl, located on the north pillar.
Surrounded by colorful palaces, the elegant red brick Gothic architecture serves as a landmark. Note the cast iron bell tower dating from 1840, the 100-meter-tall spire made of iron and concrete, and the small turrets above the side chapels.
Built in the 13th century, it was part of an abbey complex where Franciscan monks lived for nearly 300 years before it was converted into a Protestant church. You will find 17 royal tombs distributed across the Gustav Adolf, Caroline, and Bernadotte chapels. The most notable include those of the son of Birger Jarl, Magnus III of Sweden, whose reign saw the church construction, Charles VIII of Sweden, who was also King of Norway, Gustavus Adolphus, nicknamed the Lion of the North, and Frederick I of Sweden, who was also Prince of Finland. Several royal spouses are also interred here.
Beyond the tombs, you can view the coats of arms of the knights of the Order of His Majesty the King, also known as the Royal Order of the Seraphim, which line the walls. This order includes high-ranking foreign dignitaries like Charles de Gaulle or Francois Mitterrand. You can purchase your entry ticket online. Note that admission is free with the Stockholm Card and available at a reduced rate when combined with a visit to the Royal Palace. Since Riddarholmen Church is no longer a place of worship, concerts are held here regularly, so check the schedule in advance.
With its spire reaching nearly 100m high, this church dominates the entire old town of Stockholm. From far away or up close, it is quite impressive, and I think that makes it one of the symbols of the city.