Sigtuna: Exploring the Swedish Roots

Sigtuna is Sweden’s first town, founded in the 10th century. It’s a small-scale and pedestrian-friendly place, with charming wooden buildings by Lake Mälaren. This place has a good selection of stores, cafés, restaurants, and hotels, plus an interesting museum. To the fascination of history buffs, the district is rich in rune stones. Sigtuna can be reached by train, bus, or boat from the center of Stockholm and is merely an hour outside of Stockholm. The best part is if you have an SL-Card (Stockholm’s Travel Card), you can reach there without paying anything extra.

Sigtuna can be reached by train, bus, or boat from the center of Stockholm and is merely an hour outside of Stockholm. The best part is if you have an SL-Card (Stockholm’s Travel Card), you can reach there without paying anything extra. It is one of the most picturesque places to be and you can spend hours taking pictures and relaxing by the lake.

In summers, people enjoy boating in this lake

The walk by lakeside is one of the best things to do here.

Too lazy to walk? then you can relax and enjoy the view by the water. (Though it’s a risky thing to do in winters)

Undoubtedly you’ll find some marvelous places to sit which are really great photo spots as well.

It’s the oldest town in Sweden and still retains much of its medieval charm. During the Christmas season, it becomes an even more magical place, as holiday markets pop up all over the city, selling local handicrafts and fragrant goodies. It was the first place I visited when I arrived in Sweden during summers, this Sunday I went there to see the Christmas market, and it gave me an opportunity to capture a totally different side of Sigtuna than what I saw in summers.

Storagatan is the main street of Sigtuna. It is improbable beautiful and unusual for Western Europe. By its form, it reminds more likely streets of old Russian towns. Houses are wooden made, carved platbands – it is very similar to what we usually see in Russia. Houses were kept from the 18th and 19th centuries. These days it’s beautifully decorated for Christmas.

Christmas market in Sigtuna

Sigtuna is the home of the smallest City Hall in Sweden. Furniture is still the same, but they building does not serve its purpose anymore. It’s a museum nowadays, open only in Summer.

Townhall in Sigtuna

Mariakyrkan (St. Mary’s Church) is the oldest building still in use in Sigtuna and the first and oldest church made of bricks in the Mälardalen region. It was built by the Dominicans in the 13th century, and later on, a monastery was added, but during the 1530’s it was destroyed and only the church remained, which then became the church of the parish of Sigtuna. Inside there are old paintings from 14th and 15th century

Mariakyrkan at 4 PM in August

Mariakyrkan at 4 PM in December

Beautiful interiors of Mariakyrkan

The church bell’s tower is from the early 18th century and it’s located on Klockbacken, which got its name from the tower. On this hill, you’ll find some benches where you can sit down with some light drink and food and enjoy the view of Sigtuna and the water from there.

View from Klockbacken Hill

Situated just near Mariakyrkan is the well-preserved ruin of St Olof Church. It is thought to have been constructed in the 12th century.

In summers its a hub for boating enthusiasts

Though it all lies vacant in winters

I’ll say, Sigtuna is a must visit place if you’re in Stockholm. Regardless of the weather, the place looks beautiful all the time.

One of my favorite shots from the trip