Vreta Abbey in Östergötland is one of Sweden's oldest monasteries. Today there is a ruined monastery and a beautiful church from the 12th century. Not far from here is the ruins of Stjärnp Castle. Both places have a lot of history, and of course the stories are intertwined.
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From Söderköping to Vreta Abbey
We are on a motorhome trip following the Göta Canal. Our last route went from Söderköping, past Brådtom Sluss and Stjärnorps Castle ruins, to Vreta Abbey. You can read our previous blog posts from the trip here:
We made a short visit to the cosy little Brådtom lock. We will show more pictures from here in the next post. Now it will be about castles and monasteries!
We continued the tour along the northern side of Lake Roxen. We chose the northern side because the road seemed to go closer to the lake. We had not planned anything special we wanted to see until Vreta Abbey, but all of a sudden Stjärnorps castle ruin appeared. The roads were very charming by the way!
Ruins of Stjärnorp Castle
We saw a mighty building and a ruin from the road and slowed down. When we saw the sign, "Stjärnorps slott", I remembered that not so long ago I read a blog post about this ruin on the blog. A little more pink.
Cornelia, who runs the blog, likes castles and ruins as much as we do and we were talking about how funny it was that the castle has the same owner as a castle we just visited, namely Rydboholm Castle in Roslagen. Both castles are owned by Count Gustaf Douglas.
Stjärnorps Castle was built in 1655-1662, in what was then the parish of Vreta Kloster, by Count and Field Marshal Robert Douglas. The castle was designed by the well-known architect Nicodemus Tessin the Elder, who was also the architect of Drottningholm Palace, for example.
It is said that Robert Douglas and his brother-in-arms Axel Lillie decided to build their own castle when they returned from the Peace of Westphalia. Robert built Stjärnorp and Axel built Löfstad Castle in Norrköping municipality. The castles were to be so high that they could see each other from the top floor and send greeting signals.
Whether the castles were high enough for the greetings? No idea, but it is known that Robert's wife Hedvig outlived her husband by 40 years, and managed Stjärnorp with great skill. Even in the next generation, the castle was managed by a woman, Beata Stenbock, for many years.
All the buildings at Stjärnorp were destroyed by a fierce fire on 12 May 1789. Most buildings were quickly rebuilt, but unfortunately there was no money to rebuild the main building.
Today, work is underway to preserve and restore the ruin. However, please note that the ruin is not open to the public, it can only be viewed from outside a fence. However, Stjärnorp Church, which is housed in the eastern wing, is a living parish church. You are also welcome to walk through the castle park at the back of the castle and take the "Ravinstigen" down to the Stjärnorps Ravine.
Vreta Monastery
Ten minutes by car from Stjärnorp Abbey ruins you will find Vreta Abbey and Vreta Abbey Church. Vreta Abbey was founded as a Benedictine nunnery in the early 12th century. King Inge the Elder and his wife Helena donated the land for the monastery, which was one of Sweden's very first monasteries.
The monastery was active until the 1580s, when the last nuns died. Today, a partly reconstructed ruin of the monastery, the monastery church, a monastery house and many different buildings remain in the church village of Vreta Monastery.
Church of Vreta Monastery
Vreta Kloster Church is an interesting medieval church, built as a royal church in the early 12th century. On the south side of the church is a burial chancel with several tombs dedicated to Count Robert Douglas (you may remember Count Douglas from Stjärnorp Castle!) and his descendants.
Around the church there is a beautiful garden where you can really find peace and quiet. In the area there is also an old church village with a poorhouse, bell farm, vicarage and other old buildings.
The monastery house at Vreta Abbey
The monastery house is one of Sweden's few fully preserved monastery buildings, with an impressive stone warehouse from the 13th century. In one part there is an exhibition with both information and various preserved stone artefacts.
More to see in the neighbourhood
Right next to Vreta Abbey are the Berg locks, which are not to be missed. This is the Göta Canal's biggest attraction with seven interconnected locks and two double locks. It is also relatively close to beautiful Motala and charming Borensberg.
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Have you been to Vreta Abbey?
Have you been to Vreta Abbey or Stjärnorps Castle ruins? Do you like to visit historical buildings, such as castles, churches and ruins?
Facts about Vreta Abbey
- Location: Mountain
- Municipality: Linköping
- County: County of Östergötland
- Active: Circa 1100 - 1580s
- Opening hours: Weekdays 8:00-17:00 and Saturdays and public holidays 8:00-8:30 (2020).
- Guidance: Simple guided tours are organised in summer. Guided tours in the church village are organised on specific days. Guided tours for groups can be ordered via the parish office for 40 SEK/person (2020).
Facts about Stjärnorps castle ruin
- Location: Parish of Stjärnorp
- Municipality: Linköping
- County: County of Östergötland
- Completion: 1662
- Architect: Nicodemus Tessin the Elder
- Developer: Field Marshal Count Robert Douglas
- Brand: 1789
- Owners: Count Gustaf Douglas
- Open to the public: No, you can only walk up to the fence and view the castle ruins from there. However, you are welcome to walk to the Starfish Ruin.
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Role o Carina says:
Mighty buildings, they could build even in the past!
Take care....
15 July 2020 - 7:58
Helena says:
Indeed! And the same to you! ??
15 July 2020 - 9:57
Anki says:
Almost home turf for me ... the avenue at Grensholm is only a few kilometres from home and I had a post about Stjärnorpsravinen yesterday 🙂.
15 July 2020 - 8:38
Helena says:
But what fun! Then I have to read your blog!
15 July 2020 - 9:58
Tess says:
Might be a long detour for you since you've already been there, but Alvastra Abbey ruins are also well worth a visit.
15 July 2020 - 9:12
Helena says:
Thanks for the tips! Alvastra is on the list, we'd love to see it!
15 July 2020 - 9:59
Maria / MagnoliaMagis says:
Great destination!!!
15 July 2020 - 12:37
Madeleine Krans - First Morning says:
We actually went to Vreta Kloster this weekend. Incredibly nice and atmospheric place.
15 July 2020 - 9:19
Helena says:
What a coincidence! Yes, I agree, very atmospheric!
15 July 2020 - 10:00
Monet says:
I hope you saw my tip about Vreta! The same order - cistercienne - as in Le Thoronet. My father, grandmother and many other family members are buried here and we have our own graves too. My whole family comes from Linköping and one of my mum's best friends at school was called Douglas and lived at Stjärnorp. So she spent a lot of time there and had a lot of fun at the castle!
15 July 2020 - 10:11
Helena says:
Yes, thank you Monika, we did see your tip! Several suggested Vreta and we have tried to collect all the tips we received in a list. Interesting with the words, that it is the same! And what a strong connection you have here!
15 July 2020 - 16:31
A little more pink - Cornelia Tonéri says:
Oh how nice that you came by Stjärnorp and that you remembered the slightly funny connection. Now you are really close to me. Wonderful to read about your experiences. Then you realise how much beauty you have close by. Vreta Klosters church is very special to me. I don't know why, but I am drawn to it.
I have a group on Facebook called Förträffliga Östergötland (https://www.facebook.com/groups/714455969304428/?ref=bookmarks)
If you want, feel free to find it (I don't think I can invite you) and publish your posts there. I will link to this post there. What nice words about our landscape. Have a wonderful journey.
15 July 2020 - 10:24
Helena says:
Yes, there are a lot of nice things in this area, really! Thanks for the tip about the FB group. I will try to find my way in there!
15 July 2020 - 16:32
Ama de casa says:
Really nice! 🙂
I have probably visited more old castles than I wanted to. I'm not very good at VVB (Dare to refuse the castle) 😉.
I like to go and look in churches (if it's free), it's usually a nice coolness in there and beautiful environments as well of course 🙂 ).
15 July 2020 - 10:44
Helena says:
We are also not good at HVAC 😉 Right now, coolness is relatively uninteresting for us, but in Southern Europe it can be perfect to cool off in a church 🙂 .
15 July 2020 - 16:34
Maria / MagnoliaMagis says:
Beautiful Vreta! Not to mention the beautiful Bergs locks! Yes, now we are starting to get into our explored areas. My brother lived for a while only km from Vreta Abbey, now he lives in Linköping. Singer in churches so, well we like churches and ruins. I for the art inside the churches, my brother is an active member. I saw someone mention Alvastra and it is definitely worth a detour. Vadstena you also come to. If you like sweets, there is / was also the Cloetta factory in Ljungsbro....Nothing for me as I am a fancy person and want Vahlrona or Lindts...;D ;D Now you have probably gone past Linköping but the best café in the city according to the brother, who more or less lives in the café, is Babettes. Tips for another time perhaps!
15 July 2020 - 12:35
Helena says:
Thanks for all the tips! We skipped central Linköping this time, but there will be more tours!
15 July 2020 - 16:35
Lena in Wales says:
Nice trip.
Interesting story too.
Vreta resembles Varnhem in Västergötland.
Have a nice trip!
15 July 2020 - 13:45
Helena says:
Thank you very much! We would also like to look at Varnhem! 🙂
15 July 2020 - 16:36
Ann-Louise Paulsson says:
Vreta Kloster is so beautiful! I was there fifteen years ago with friends from the USA whose Swedish ancestors came from the area around Vreta Kloster and were given a guided tour by a priest who had helped us with our genealogical research. Would love to go back there again.
15 July 2020 - 20:12
Helena says:
How nice for your American friends to come here! Very nice place!
15 July 2020 - 21:37
BP says:
Almost a "Walk on Memory Lane". I haven't visited Vreta Kloster and/or Stjärnorps Slottsruin irl, but Anki who lives nearby has shown pictures from there. Great fun to "walk" there again, because it is so atmospheric there.
15 July 2020 - 20:25
Helena says:
The blog world is good sometimes, isn't it? I also like to follow blogs, and now that we are travelling in Sweden there is more recognition 😉.
15 July 2020 - 21:40
Lena - good for the soul says:
Haven't been to those places, but like to visit castles and churches. Something special in some way. But I've never heard of the concept of a royal church.
Hug Lena
16 July 2020 - 18:27