Vasteras Cathedral
A brick Gothic cathedral in central Vasteras holding the alabaster tomb of Erik XIV, who died a prisoner.
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The cathedral was consecrated in 1271 and enlarged repeatedly, ending as a wide five-aisled brick hall with a tower and spire added by Nicodemus Tessin the Elder in the 1690s, which at about a hundred metres is the tallest church tower in the country. Its best-known object is the tomb of Erik XIV, deposed by his brothers in 1568 and dead in 1577 at Orbyhus, poisoned by pea soup according to the story and by arsenic according to the analysis of his remains - a black and white alabaster monument put up long after. The medieval altarpieces and the sixteenth-century pulpit are the other things to look for.
What you actually see
- A five-aisled brick hall - grown by stages from 1271.
- Tessin's spire of the 1690s - the tallest church tower in Sweden.
- Erik XIV's alabaster tomb - the deposed king, dead in captivity.
- Medieval altarpieces - and a sixteenth-century pulpit.
When to go
Year round; hours follow services. An hour.
Honest expectations
Concerts and services close it to visitors. The interior is whitewashed and sparse. English information is limited. The tower is not open to climb.
Nearby
Anundshog is east; Lake Malaren is south of the town.
What to pack for Vasteras Cathedral
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
