Storkyrkan - The Great Church

Storkyrkan (English: The Great Church), also known as Stockholms domkyrka and Sankt Nikolai kyrka, is the oldest church in Stockholm, located in the heart of Gamla stan between Stockholm Palace and Stortorget. The presence of a church on the site is first recorded in 1279, and the building was consecrated to Saint Nicholas in 1306. It has held its present dimensions since 1480, when it was extended to a five-aisled hall church in the Nordic brick Gothic style. The Baroque exterior dates from extensive alterations carried out in the 1740s to harmonise with the adjacent Royal Palace, while the interior retains much of its medieval character, with vaulted brick ceilings and brick pillars. The church was elevated to the status of cathedral for the Diocese of Stockholm in 1942. Among its most celebrated treasures is the oak sculpture of Saint George and the Dragon, carved in 1489 by Bernt Notke of Lübeck, commissioned to commemorate the Swedish victory at the Battle of Brunkeberg. The church has served as the venue for royal coronations, weddings, and state funerals throughout Swedish history, most recently hosting the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling in 2010.