Lövånger Church town

Lövånger Church town is one of the older church towns that are preserved. Old maps have been found in church buildings from the middle of the 17th century.

The church villages became quite common after the Protestant church in Sweden gained its power and placed high demands on the church among the people. You would regularly attend church services and holidays. In 1681, "church tours" were introduced, which meant that those who lived within a mile of the church would come every Sunday and within two miles every other Sunday.

Since many parishioners had a long way to the church, church towns with cottages, sheds, and stables were built. In Lapland, settlers and Sami people lived together around the chapels that were built, and church towns were also formed there in the form of tents and church cottages.

Until the end of the 19th century, the church town was an important gathering point. Markets, courts, and tax collections were held here. The church town also had a significant social importance. Public announcements were read from the pulpit, and news from near and far was gossiped about on the church hill. People gathered here, marriages were arranged, and work was arranged.

In a fire in the 1870s, 25 cottages were destroyed. After the fire, several church cottages were joined together to form a row of houses with 16 "apartments," which were later converted into a Parish Hall.

In the early 1900s, the church cottages were used less frequently, and maintenance was neglected. Thanks to a foresighted county architect who, after consultation with the National Heritage Board and the Nordic Museum, initiated the restoration. The principle was to preserve the characteristic layout/design of the entire area. Although more than 100 stables had to be demolished due to the risk of fire, 27 stables still remain.

Of the 47 church towns that existed, only 16 church towns remain.

The church towns are probably contemporaneous with the medieval churches and can be found, among other places, in Umeå, Bygdeå, Lövånger, Skellefteå, Piteå, and Gammelstad.

Lövånger Kyrkstad is one of the few church towns where the unique opportunity to stay in. Book your cottage>>

Lövånger Church Town is one of the few church towns where the unique opportunity to stay in a church cottage exists, as it is currently used for cottage rentals.

Everything from curious tourists, dedicated locals, conference guests, and wedding guests are attracted to this unique accommodation option. It was during the 1950s that Lövånger's local heritage association, together with the municipality and the county administrative board, ensured that the restoration began and continues to this day with annual renovations to keep the cottages beautiful and sustainable. All the cottages have been renovated to a good standard but still retain their period charm. All cottages have a shower, toilet, and most have a small pantry kitchen. Each cottage is unique, ranging from small 1-bed cottages to large 5-bed cottages.

The 117 cottages and stables are now owned by Lövånger's local heritage association, with about ten cottages in private ownership. The rental operation of the church town is run by Lövångergården.

Stay overnight in the church cottage. You will stay very uniquely and cozily in the cottages of Lövånger Church Town.