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Knislinge kyrka

Address
Hässleholmsvägen 2, 289 31, Knislinge
Denomination
Church of Sweden
Associated diocese
Diocese of Lund

Knislinge kyrka is a medieval church in Knislinge, Skåne, whose oldest parts date from the late 12th or early 13th century. It is best known for its extensive medieval wall paintings, and remains part of the Church of Sweden's Knislinge-Gryts parish.



The church began as a simple structure of nave, chancel and a semicircular apse. Romanesque wall paintings surviving in the triumphal arch date from this early period, offering a rare glimpse of 13th-century decoration. In the 15th century the nave and chancel were given star vaults, and a broad tower was apparently incorporated into the church interior, with a new tower and porch added on the south side.

The vaults were richly decorated with late medieval paintings attributed to the church painter Nils Håkansson, known as the Vittskövle Master. These murals, alongside the earlier Romanesque work in the triumphal arch, are the church's principal attraction and give the interior a striking, layered sense of history spanning several centuries of craftsmanship.

Later centuries brought significant changes to the building's appearance. In 1803 a three-sided sacristy replaced the earlier apse, and the present western porch was probably built in 1843. Late 19th-century enlargement of the windows altered much of the church's original character. A thorough restoration in 1977–1978 reopened a blocked southern doorway into the tower's ground floor, removed some pews, and replaced older wooden floors with brick; the church was reconsecrated in December 1978.

Among the furnishings, the sandstone font is thought to be contemporary with the church's earliest construction and is attributed to a local craftsman known as the Knislinge Master; its upper section depicts the Nativity. The altar and altarpiece date from around 1600, and the pulpit was carved in 1747 by the sculptor Johan Ullberg. Stained glass in the chancel and sacristy was added in the 1930s by Yngve Lundström.

The church's two bells were cast in 1728 and 1781 respectively. An older organ from 1892, built by E A Setterquist & Son of Örebro, survives dismantled in the tower, while the current mechanical organ, installed in 1980, reuses the façade of its predecessor.

Opening hours

Provider-listed schedule, applicable on 12 Oct 2026. All times are local to Sweden.

From 8 Jun 2026; no end date supplied
Monday08:00–16:00
Tuesday08:00–16:00
Wednesday08:00–16:00
Thursday08:00–16:00
Friday08:00–16:00
SaturdayNot listed
SundayNot listed

Additional opening information is awaiting translation. Check the official visitor-information link before travelling.

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

Facilities & accessibility

  • Parking
  • Toilet
  • Hearing loop

Listed by the provider; availability has not been independently checked. An unlisted facility is not necessarily unavailable.

Contact & official information

Knislinge pastorat

Knislinge pastorat

Knislinge kyrka

Knislinge kyrka is a medieval church in Knislinge, Skåne, whose oldest parts date from the late 12th or early 13th century. It is best known for its extensive medieval wall paintings, and remains part of the Church of Sweden's Knislinge-Gryts parish.

Hässleholmsvägen 2, 289 31, Knislinge

Explore this church: Knislinge 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

Glimåkra kyrka

Glimåkra kyrka, in the village of Glimåkra in Skåne, was built in 1837–1838 on the site of an earlier medieval church dating from around the late 1100s or 1280s. It belongs to the Church of…

Kyrkogatan 1, 289 46, Glimåkra

View church details: Glimåkra kyrka
Basic listing

Löderups kyrka

Löderups kyrka is a medieval parish church in Löderup, Skåne, dedicated to Saint Olof. Dating from the 1100s, it is notable for its Romanesque font, a richly carved 17th-century pulpit, and an altarpiece by the…

Österlenvägen 808, 27177, Löderup

View church details: Löderups kyrka
Basic listing

Fulltofta kyrka

Fulltofta kyrka stands beside Fulltofta gård in Skåne, on a site once linked to the Archbishop of Lund's estate. Built in the Romanesque style, likely from the mid-12th century, it remains a modest but richly…

Fulltofta 4801, 24294, Hörby

View church details: Fulltofta kyrka
Basic listing

Gödelövs kyrka

Gödelövs kyrka is a small parish church in the village of Gödelöv, Skåne, part of Genarps församling in the Diocese of Lund. Dating from the 13th century, it retains a medieval core along with several…

GÖDELÖVS KYRKA 155, 247 98, Genarp

View church details: Gödelövs 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: 9 Jun 2026. This is not an independent verification date.

Source record: 35caba2d-6588-4429-98cd-4f050e6d1915

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.