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Vamlingbo kyrka

Municipality
Gotland
Denomination
Church of Sweden
Associated diocese
Diocese of Visby

Vamlingbo kyrka is a medieval church in Hoburg parish on southern Gotland, roughly thirty kilometres south of Hemse. Consecrated in the 13th century, it stands out for its unusually tall tower and its richly worked stone interior, offering a fine example of Gotland's distinctive rural church architecture.



The present hall church, built of hewn sandstone with finely cut limestone detailing, has a three-aisled nave, a narrower straight-ended chancel, and a west tower. Most of the structure dates from the mid-13th century, though excavations during 20th-century restoration work revealed foundations of an earlier, smaller tower beneath the current one, and sandstone relief fragments from 12th-century tomb chests are built into the south nave wall, hinting at an earlier stone church on the site.

The tower has a dramatic history of destruction and rebuilding. Added around the mid-14th century, it reached about 75 metres, reportedly making it Gotland's tallest church tower. It was renovated in the 1730s but blew down in a storm in 1736; rebuilt again, its upper section was destroyed by a lightning strike in 1817. The tower seen today dates from 1820, when the lantern and the massive buttressing walls now supporting it were added, a change that also led to the tower's south portal being blocked, though its surround can still be traced from inside.

Inside, the nave is covered by nine vaulted bays carried on four round pillars, with an eye-catching alternation of red and grey limestone in the pillars, chancel arch and window surrounds, complemented by painted quadre decoration in yellow and grey. Wall paintings survive from both the 13th and 14th centuries; a figure scene on the north wall, dated to the mid-13th century, depicts the weighing of the soul of Emperor Henry. Later vault paintings from around 1700 were heavily restored around 1900, when the chancel's medieval-style stained glass was also added.

A notable survival is the trefoil-shaped opening in the chancel arch wall, said to be the only preserved medieval ambo, or stone pulpit, on Gotland. The font belongs to the so-called Byzantios group and dates from the second half of the 12th century, while the altar's sandstone table is topped by a large carved limestone slab. The carved altarpiece, from the 14th century, shows the crucifixion with Mary, John and the apostles, and a 1600s pulpit later replaced the medieval ambo as the church's main preaching stand. A modern limestone sculpture of Mary and the infant Christ, made by Sven Lundqvist in 1971, brings the collection into the 20th century.

The church has had several organs. Its first, built in 1840, was replaced by a Rieger instrument in 1932, itself rebuilt in the 1960s; the current mechanical organ was built in 1985, retaining the case front from the 1840 instrument.

Opening hours

Opening hours have not been confirmed for the current date. This does not mean the church is closed.

Check access with the parish before travelling. Services and seasonal changes can affect visits.

Contact & official information

Hoburgs församling

Hoburgs församling

Vamlingbo kyrka

Vamlingbo kyrka is a medieval church in Hoburg parish on southern Gotland, roughly thirty kilometres south of Hemse. Consecrated in the 13th century, it stands out for its unusually tall tower and its richly worked stone interior, offering a fine example of Gotland's distinctive rural church architecture.

Explore this church: Vamlingbo kyrka

Church information: Svenska kyrkan, Platser · CC BY 4.0. Each church page includes its credits and visiting notes.

Other churches in the same diocese

Basic listing

Källunge kyrka

Källunge kyrka is a striking Gotland church whose vast chancel hints at ambitions never fully realised. Standing in open countryside, it combines a modest 12th-century nave with an oversized Gothic choir, making it one of…

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View church details: Källunge kyrka
Basic listing

Buttle kyrka

Buttle kyrka is a medieval parish church on Gotland, in Vänge församling, built of limestone in the Romanesque style typical of the island. Its long history spans the 12th to 14th centuries, and it retains…

622 48, Romakloster

View church details: Buttle kyrka
Basic listing

Närs kyrka

Närs kyrka is a medieval church on Gotland, in När-Lau parish within the Diocese of Visby. Set slightly away from the village centre near the Närkån stream and several main roads, it is a fine…

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View church details: Närs kyrka
Basic listing

Gerums kyrka

Gerums kyrka is a medieval parish church on Gotland, in the Church of Sweden's diocese of Visby. Serving Gerum parish, it is a modest rural church notable for its unusual tower and richly painted interior…

Fardhems Prästgård, 62352, HEMSE

View church details: Gerums kyrka

Sources & credits

Provider catalogue data: Svenska kyrkan, Platser, CC BY 4.0. Separately credited descriptions retain their stated source and licence terms. Catalogue and visiting data reformatted from the provider. The English guide combines and abridges separately credited sources below.

Provider record updated: 26 Jan 2024. This is not an independent verification date.

Source record: 7402ad47-7f18-434f-8081-aeb9393e6035

Guide sources

This English guide combines, abridges and translates the sources below with AI assistance, with editorial contributions by Churches in Sweden. It has not been independently verified. The adapted guide text is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photographs and map data have their own terms.

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Church data retrieved 24 Sep 2026. Visiting details have not been independently verified.

Sources, licences & reuse

Independent guide

Churches in Sweden is an independent guide. It is not an official Svenska kyrkan website and does not imply sponsorship or endorsement.

Church information

Source: Svenska kyrkan — Platser, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. English adaptations by Churches in Sweden are identified on each profile. Our adaptations solely from Platser are offered under CC BY 4.0. Guides combining Wikipedia with other compatible sources are identified individually and offered under CC BY-SA 4.0; this covers that guide text, not the whole website. Separately credited third-party material retains its stated terms. Independently written descriptions are identified on their profiles. Imported material has not been independently verified. Original names and visiting details are retained; presentation is reformatted. Each profile identifies its source record and any additional supplied credits.

You may reuse the licensed church material under CC BY 4.0, including commercially, with the required attribution, licence link and indication of changes. No additional site restriction overrides those rights. The licence does not automatically cover separately credited images or map data.

Provider disclaimer

Svenska kyrkan supplies Platser data without guaranteeing that it is correct, current, complete across its organisation, or always available. The material is provided as-is and as-available, subject to the licence’s disclaimer of warranties and limitation of liability.

Svenska kyrkan kan ej garantera att den data som finns i Platser:
– är korrekt.
– är aktuell.
– är komplett för hela Svenska kyrkans organisation.
– alltid är tillgänglig.

Preserved provider agreement · Full licence

Automatic diocese associations use the organisation codes from Svenska kyrkan UnitAPI. An association does not establish ownership or denomination. External editorial sources are credited separately.

Map and photographs

Map data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL and © OpenMapTiles. Tiles and style are served by World Class Maps. Map rendering uses MapLibre GL JS. The map’s own attribution remains visible.

Photographs are credited individually with their own licence or permission. The API data licence does not automatically cover photographs. No images are imported automatically.