Jaap van 't Veen's photos with the keyword: Småland province

Gamla Kyrkogården (Old Cemetery), located in the former medieval city of Kalmar, is dating back to the first half of the 13th century. It is the oldest Christian burial ground in Kalmar. At the square of the Old Town stood the Bykyrkan (Village Church) and in connection with it the cemetery was laid out. The Village Church was blown up during the 1670s, when the whole city of Kalmar was moved to it´s present place on Kvarnholmen. Gamla Kyrkogården kept in use till the 1860’s and remained at its original place, till the South Cemetery, close to Kalmar Castle, was ready Several old gravestones can still be seen in the cemetery, many with unusual motifs and forms. The place where the old church stood is marked with a memorial plaque as well as stones that show where the foundation stood. There are tombstones from the 17th and 18th centuries and standing gravestones from the 19th century. Several of these stones were locally made, using limestone from Öland. Memorial crosses of cast iron became common in the middle of the 19th century One of the most remarkable gravestones (see first PiP) shows a knight (Christopher Andersson Grip) and his wife; both seem to be beheaded. According to a plaque they died in 1588 and 1599.

‘Kalmar domkyrka’ (Kalmar Cathedral) is located in the heart of the new city and dominates the central square ‘Stortorget’. According to the renaissance ideals of the mid 17th century the church and the town hall were places across from each other at the square. The new fortified city - built on the island ‘Kvarnholmen’ - was completed in the year of 1658. Two years later the construction of the cathedral started, but due to several interruptions it was finished in 1703. It has been built in a Scandinavian variant of baroque style with richly decorated facades and pilasters of limestone. The interior of the church - remarkable bright - is laid out according to Evangelical Lutheran tenets with a focus on the main altar. This baroque altar was designed in 1704 and depicts the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The interior shows beautiful furnishings and fixtures with graves, epitaphs and a sculpted pulpit from the mid 17th century. In the center of the ‘domkyrka’ hangs a brass chandelier with 36 arms.

The first defensive constructions on the place of the present Kalmar Castle were built in the 12 and 13th century. Kalmar Castle was an important fortification and known as the key to the kingdom because of its strategic location. The Swedish-Danish border was located only a short distance to the south, because the provinces of Scania and Blekinge were Danish territory for a long time. Kalmar Castle became its current design during the 16th century by several Vasa kings. They turned the medieval fortress into a renaissance castle. The castle suffered heavy damage during the Kalmar War of 1611-13 and was badly damaged by a fire in 1642. Repairs were begun but from the end of the seventeenth century the castle was allowed to fall into disrepair. In 1856 restorations were initiated restoration work at Kalmar Castle and by 1891 the castle had gained the silhouette it bears today. Early 20th century the earthworks, the moat, the bridge and the drawbridge were restored. Work continued until 1941, when the castle was once more surrounded by water. Today Kalmar Slott is one of Sweden's best preserved renaissance castles.