Runestones in Sigtuna

Although the former capital of Sweden, an important Viking trading center, and the first Christian city in the country does not boast an impressive square, the number of tourist attractions in Sigtuna can amaze even experienced travelers. The ancient St. Mary's Church, one of the seven famous stone churches built in the Early Middle Ages, the ruins of St. Olof's Church, and the adjacent ancient Swedish cemetery with unique stone tombstones, the small 18th-century Sigtuna Town Hall that still holds marriage ceremonies... It is only a small part of the rich heritage, which makes Sigtuna so attractive for modern tourists.

The main and most ancient attraction of the medieval Swedish capital is the runestones, scattered along all the city streets like beads. Although Sigtuna became Christian earlier than other cities, its citizens preserved ancient traditions and performed cult rituals for a long time. For example, the ancient ancestors of the Swedes used these stones to glorify themselves and their deeds. They were not humble at all, judging by how many runestones were found all over the country.

Runestones in Sigtuna can be found everywhere: on playgrounds and in squares, built into the walls of houses, or just standing alone on city streets. Some of them belong to the Viking Age or later periods. Others were even built by Christians, as evidenced by the inscriptions on them. The most notable one is the stone with an inscription "In memory of Olof" and a carved Christian prayer for the repose of his soul. To see all the runestones of Sigtuna, tourists have to walk through all the streets of the city and get acquainted with other tourist attractions at the same time. The best place to start is the old main street (Stora gatan), where Swedish coins were first minted.