Church Town of Gammelstad, 405 cottages and 552 rooms

Of Sweden’s earlier total of 71 church towns, only 16 remain today. The majority of them are fragments of what they once were. Gammelstad has the country’s largest and best preserved church town, with 405 cottages divided into 552 rooms.

The World Heritage Site encompasses the culturally and historically valuable buildings: a total of 520 protected structures, the road network, the ancient remains, and the centuries-old custom of staying in one’s church cottage during holidays.

The Gammelstad Church Town is more than 400 years old, and houses 405 church cottages with six stables and a privy. The church town is spread out around the great medieval church. Next door to the church to its south are the parish hall and tithing house. The cottages of the church town are small, low buildings. Most contain only one or two rooms.

Justification of the World Heritage Committee

“Gammelstad Church Town is a remarkable example of the traditional church town of northern Scandinavia. It admirably illustrates the adaptation of conventional urban design to the special geographical and climatic conditions of a hostile natural environment.”

More information:
The Gammelstad Church Town World Heritage Site