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Kräklingbo kyrka

Address
623 70, Katthammarsvik
Municipality
Gotland
Denomination
Church of Sweden
Associated diocese
Diocese of Visby

Kräklingbo kyrka is a medieval parish church in the village of Kräklingbo on Gotland, part of Östergarn parish. Its earliest sections date from the beginning of the 13th century, making it one of the island's older surviving churches.



The church's oldest fabric belongs to the early 1200s, but it was significantly enlarged in the early 14th century, when two large portals were added to the south side. These are richly decorated with carved reliefs and remain among the building's most striking external features.

Inside, the north wall of the chancel preserves wall paintings dating from the early 13th century, offering visitors a glimpse of the church's earliest decorative scheme.

Among the furnishings, the altar cabinet is a Gotlandic work from the early 1500s. An older triumphal crucifix, positioned above the chancel arch, dates from the end of the 13th century. The sandstone font is later still, made around 1670.

Sources note the former existence of a defensive tower, or kastal, once standing southwest of the church. Eighteenth-century records describe it as a ruinous old stone tower that had earlier served as the priest's residence; it was demolished sometime between 1763 and 1775. Only the remains of its foundation survive today, registered as an ancient monument.

The church also has a pneumatic organ built in 1940 by the Örebro firm E A Setterquist, retaining its original fixed combinations.

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.

Östergarns församling

Kräklingbo kyrka

Kräklingbo kyrka is a medieval parish church in the village of Kräklingbo on Gotland, part of Östergarn parish. Its earliest sections date from the beginning of the 13th century, making it one of the island's older surviving churches.

623 70, Katthammarsvik

Explore this church: Kräklingbo 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

Roma kyrka

Roma kyrka is a medieval limestone church in the village of Roma kyrkby on Gotland, part of Roma parish in the Diocese of Visby. Its three-aisled hall-church interior and richly worked portals make it one…

622 54, Romakloster

View church details: Roma kyrka
Basic listing

Barlingbo kyrka

Barlingbo kyrka is a medieval parish church on Gotland, in Barlingbo, part of Visby diocese. It is known for a richly carved 12th-century font, medieval wall paintings and a striking triumphal crucifix, all housed within…

621 78, Visby

View church details: Barlingbo kyrka
Basic listing

Ganns ödekyrka

Ganns ödekyrka, a ruined medieval church north of Lärbro on Gotland, is now a quiet ruin steeped in legend. It once served the small parish of Gann before falling out of regular use, and it…

Ganns ödekyrka, LÄRBRO SUDERVANGE 1520, 624 53, Lärbro

View church details: Ganns ödekyrka

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: 22 Jan 2025. This is not an independent verification date.

Source record: 3fd59e39-786f-4fd0-9656-0cd191a26212

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.

Suggest a correction

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.