Katarina Church is among Stockholm’s most important churches. Also known by its Swedish name, Katarina Kyrka, the church’s profile can be seen prominently on the city’s skyline from many areas as a result of its elevated location on the island of Södermalm. View its painstakingly reconstructed exterior and head inside to see an organ performance.
See the facade of the church, which features bright yellow walls, a graceful dome and a bell tower decorated with a gold cross. The church is named for Princess Katarina, half-sister of King Gustav II Adolf and the mother of King Karl X Gustav. It was originally built in the late 17th century, although various sacred buildings had existed on this site for centuries before this. The site of several devastating fires over the years, some locals believe the church is cursed because it stands on the graves of victims of a 16th-century massacre. The current building dates from the 1990s.
Inside, the walls are white and sunlight streams through the huge windows. Brass chandeliers and candle holders hang from the church’s domed ceiling, enhancing the glow. Notice the striking altarpiece, which features golden columns leading up to an enormous sun.
Look for the church’s grand organ, decorated with delicately carved wood. Come around lunchtime on Tuesdays or Thursdays to hear the organ’s full sound in a 20-minute concert or see a performance by one of the church’s five choirs.
In the cemetery beside the church, see the graves of several prominent Swedes, including artists and politicians. Look for the grave of foreign minister Anna Lindh, who was assassinated in 2003. Author Per Anders Fogelström and 18th-century architect Carl Fredrik Adelcrantz are among the other notable locals buried here. The stairs leading from the cemetery to the southern entrance feature an ornate railing and carvings in tribute to King Karl XII.
Find Katarina Church in Högbergsgatan, southeast of Gamla Stan on Södermalm. It’s accessible by metro. The church is open daily and admission is free.
No trip to Stockholm is complete without a visit to this historic landmark.
