Sankta Gertruds kyrka

**When Västervik was founded on its present site in 1433 by Erik of Pomerania, the inhabitants were given four tax-free years, the first to build the church of St. Gertrude. The church is open to the public in summer.

Services were held in the church for almost 500 years, with the last mass being held on Judgement Sunday in 1905. On Advent 1st of the same year, Västervik's new church, Sankt Petri, was consecrated. After this, St. Gertrude was used as a granary during the First World War. During the hunger riots of 1917, starving Västervik residents stormed the church only to discover that the grain had sprouted and could no longer be used.

Eventually, the idea of restoring the church as a place of worship arose and on June 18, 1933, St. Gertrude's Church was rededicated. The original tower of the church was destroyed by a lightning strike during services in 1762 and was replaced in the 1780s by the current one, designed by the famous architect Carl Fredrik Adelchrantz. Among the church's valuable inventory is a Wistenius organ from 1743, which is considered one of Sweden's most valuable organs.

For opening hours, contact the Church of Sweden, Västervik Parish.