Västerås Cathedral (Swedish: ''Västerås domkyrka'') is the seat of the Diocese of Västerås in the Province of

Västmanland Västmanland ( or ) is a historical Swedish province, or , in middle Sweden. It borders Södermanland, Närke, Värmland, Dalarna and Uppland. Västmanland means "West Man Land" or, less literally, "The Land of the Western Men", where the "we ...

, Sweden. The church building is a five-

aisle An aisle is a linear space for walking with rows of non-walking spaces on both sides. Aisles with seating on both sides can be seen in airplanes, in buildings such as churches, cathedrals, synagogues, meeting halls, parliaments, courtrooms, ...

hall church A hall church is a Church (building), church with a nave and aisles of approximately equal height. In England, Flanders and the Netherlands, it is covered by parallel roofs, typically, one for each vessel, whereas in Germany there is often one s ...

, with copper-covered roof and a single west tower with side extensions and an obelisk-shaped, copper-clad spire. It is built in the Scandinavian

Brick Gothic Brick Gothic (, , ) is a specific style of Gothic architecture common in Baltic region, Northeast and Central Europe especially in the regions in and around the Baltic Sea, which do not have resources of standing rock (though Glacial erratic, ...

style.

History

The present church was originally built as a Romanesque

basilica In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica (Greek Basiliké) was a large public building with multiple functions that was typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek Eas ...

with a

nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...

and two side

s in the 13th century and consecrated on 16 August 1271. It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist. The cathedral has undergone numerous extensions since. The church was expanded eastward under Bishop Lydeke Abelsson in the 1460s. When a chapel in the southwestern corner of the church was added to 1517, the church reached its present size. The outer roof of copper was laid during the 17th century. The present Baroque spire from 1694 was designed by

Nicodemus Tessin the Younger Count Nicodemus Tessin the Younger (23 May 1654 – 10 April 1728) was a Swedish Baroque architect, city planner, and administrator. The son of Nicodemus Tessin the Elder and the father of Carl Gustaf Tessin, Tessin the Younger was the midd ...

(1654–1728). The spire is built of oak, without iron beams or nails, and lined with copper. During the 1500s, 1600s and 1700s, there were also many fixtures that changed the interior. The organ was built in 1940 by Marcussen & Sön and is an electropneumatic organ. Johannes Rudbeckius (1581–1646), was bishop at Västerås from 1619 until his death. The cathedral houses the sarcophagus of

Eric XIV of Sweden Erik XIV or Eric XIV (13 December 153326 February 1577) became King of Sweden following the death of his father, Gustav I, on 29 September 1560. During a 1568 rebellion against him, Erik was incarcerated by his half-brother John III. He w ...

who was King of Sweden from 1560 until 1568.

Great organ

''"Organ builders P. L. Åkerman & Lunds Orgelfabriks Aktiebolag have completed in a praiseworthy manner the contract and the provisions of the estimate therein cited concerning the building of this organ, one of the most significant in our land and in more than one respect unique, whereby the organ is by us thoroughly approved".'' From the inspection report of 8 March 1898 The above praise was written by Gustaf Hägg and August Lagergren, responsible for inspecting the great organ built by Åkerman & Lund in Stockholm and still used today. Originally, the organ had 40 stops over three manuals and pedals. This was the first large organ in Sweden to be built with tubular pneumatic action. The organ was also one of the first in Sweden to have high pressure stops – five of them, no less. The impressive organ façade was designed by Agi Lindegren. During its long service, the organ has been enlarged a number of times, most recently in 1998 by the English company Harrison & Harrison Ltd. and in 2009 by the Swedish firm Åkerman & Lund orgelbyggeri AB. However, the basis of the instrument is still the organ of 1898. The renovation was seeking to recreate the monumental original sound of the instrument. Today, it contains 65 stops over four manuals and pedals. * = high pressure stops.

Gallery

Dopfunt Västerås Depken.jpg, Baptismal Veronica-Altar.JPG, Altarpiece Västerås domkyrka September 2014 01.jpg, Interior Tomb of Eric XIV of Sweden in Västerås.jpg, Tomb of Eric XIV of Sweden Västerås Domkyrka Rudbeckius 2.jpg, Statue of Johannes Rudbeckius West Aros Cathedral - Västerås 2008.jpg, The cathedral seen from the banks of River

Svartån Svartån in Västmanland County, Sweden is a river that is 91 kilometers long. It passes through the towns of Skultuna and Västerås and has its outlet in Mälaren. The name Västerås derives from the Swedish language, Sueco-Latin language, L ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vasteras Cathedral Lutheran cathedrals in Sweden Churches in Västmanland County Västerås Churches in the Diocese of Västerås Buildings and structures in Västerås