© Gammelstads Kyrkstad
The history of Gammelstad
One thousand years ago, the Luleå region was an archipelago, and the sea level was 10 metres higher than today. The church hill in present-day Gammelstad was a small island in the mouth of the River Lule.
After the Treaty of Pähkinäsaari in 1323, a new border was drawn up between Sweden and Russia. The border in the North was not clearly set out in the peace treaty. The Swedish king could therefore present the Lule River Valley to local chiefs in central Sweden. The church sent priests and built simple wooden churches and in 1339, in Svendal´s will, there is mention for the first time of a church service being held in "Luleå".
The church and priests, taxation and Swedish legislation were used to bring the regions in the north under Swedish sovereignty. Construction of the stone church began in the 15th century. It is an impressive building which bears witness to the economic prosperity of the region. The people of the parish made a living among other things from livestock rearing, fishing and trading in skins with the Sámi.
After the Treaty of Pähkinäsaari in 1323, a new border was drawn up between Sweden and Russia. The border in the North was not clearly set out in the peace treaty. The Swedish king could therefore present the Lule River Valley to local chiefs in central Sweden. The church sent priests and built simple wooden churches and in 1339, in Svendal´s will, there is mention for the first time of a church service being held in "Luleå".
The church and priests, taxation and Swedish legislation were used to bring the regions in the north under Swedish sovereignty. Construction of the stone church began in the 15th century. It is an impressive building which bears witness to the economic prosperity of the region. The people of the parish made a living among other things from livestock rearing, fishing and trading in skins with the Sámi.
The first overnight cottages were probably built when the church was being constructed. Long distances, tradesmen´s need of storage and overnight accommodation near the fair, the church stables, where the horses stood while the people attended church services, and last but not least the obligation of the inhabitants to go to church regularly, all meant that the number of church cottages slowly but surely increased.
The irregular siting of the cottages indicates that they were added gradually and as needed. Initially, people from the same village had their cottages adjacent and placed at the different villages various access routes to the church. Once all the streets were lined with cottages, the land between the roads was filled with buildings. This created alleys and "smog", i.e. the narrow passages between the church cottages.
Use the menu to the left to read more about the history of Gammelstad through the centuries.
The irregular siting of the cottages indicates that they were added gradually and as needed. Initially, people from the same village had their cottages adjacent and placed at the different villages various access routes to the church. Once all the streets were lined with cottages, the land between the roads was filled with buildings. This created alleys and "smog", i.e. the narrow passages between the church cottages.
Use the menu to the left to read more about the history of Gammelstad through the centuries.