Sigtuna, the oldest town in Sweden

Ringil · January 30th, 2005, 06:04 PM

Sigtuna is the oldest still existing town in Sweden. It was founded in the 10th century.

The head street in Sigtuna, and its also the oldest street in Sweden,

The ruins of St.Peters church, from the early 12th century.

I really like ruins

The ruins of St.Olof from the 12th century, a copy of the Nidarosdomen

damn, lot of ruin pictures, well enough i say

Maris VX · January 30th, 2005, 06:27 PM

Nice and interesting place to visit. AFAIk, Sigtuna was destroyed by the Latvian vikings in 1187 (it`s little known, but Latvian (Baltic) vikings traveled to Denmark and Sweden).

Qualtagh · January 30th, 2005, 06:30 PM

Impressive. I thought Stockholm was the eldest before this thread.

darkmage7280 · January 30th, 2005, 06:31 PM

Oh, okay. 'Cos I've been hearing conflicting versions of who were the culprits behind the burning of Sigtuna... Some say it was the Russians, some say Finnish & Estonian pirates.

Renx · January 30th, 2005, 06:38 PM

and I've heard it was a joint operation between Estonian and Curonian vikings.

Anyway, nice thread

Kommentare · January 30th, 2005, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renx

and I've heard it was a joint operation between Estonian and Curonian vikings.

Anyway, nice thread

Curonians weren't vikings.

Maris VX · January 30th, 2005, 06:38 PM

No problem, Estonians, Karelians, Livs and Kurlanders, maybe all of them. Some say German crusaders came to end Kurlander and Estonian 'pirate' activities.

DnH · January 30th, 2005, 06:39 PM

cool.. i live in sigtuna kommun in Märsta.. pretty close to sigtuna stad..
even tho i hate many of the people (snobs) in Sigtuna, its a nice, cosy town.

Vaidas · January 30th, 2005, 06:44 PM

Looks very small... What is the population of the town?

And the ruins are very nice

Qualtagh · January 30th, 2005, 07:05 PM

Inspired by this thread, I googled the oldest (non-existing today) town in Sweden, Birka. Deserted at the end of 8th century.

PC · January 30th, 2005, 07:22 PM

Very intresting and beautiful old town. This is definitely a place I would like to visit someday

.

Ringil · January 30th, 2005, 07:44 PM

Sigtuna was destroyed by the people from the estonian island of Ösel. After that Birger Jarl build a fortress on a small island where the baltic sea meets the lake Mälaren. The island's name was Stockholm

After that we did a lot of crusades to the eastern shores of the baltic sea.and we colonised Finland and of course attaced the island of Ösel

(the big one)

the smallest city hall in Sweden.

Renx · January 30th, 2005, 07:33 PM

@Kommentare: maybe they weren't, I don't know, that's what I've heard at least. One book I have says that according to some Swedish sources, the attackers were Estonians and also pagan pirates, pagan Karelians, Baltic people and the Estonian fleet are mentioned.
Anyway, the reason for this attack was probably the fact that Swedes were constantly raiding our lands.
It's interesting, though, that all Baltic nations want to claim the "honour" of doing this.

Of course, I understand, that at least regarding Estonians and Latvians, it's a question of national pride or smth, because we lost our independence and then we needed something to show our pre-historic might but actually being proud of killing a lot of innocent people and burning a city to the ground...well this "honour" is a bit questionable really.

John · January 30th, 2005, 07:38 PM

I love old ruins. Although they could rebuild that church.

Hviid · January 30th, 2005, 08:51 PM

really nice pictures Ringil

Mantas · January 31st, 2005, 12:03 AM

Great pics and I love the church ruins

ZuluKingOfTheDwarfPeople · January 31st, 2005, 02:58 AM

I think the village Stockholm was founded on is older, but I guess it isnt considered as existing anymore...

Ringil · January 31st, 2005, 09:17 AM

Quote:

I think the village Stockholm was founded on is older, but I guess it isnt considered as existing anymore...

the oldest parts of Stockholm is from the 13th century, while Sigtuna was founded in the 10th century, but you must be thinking of Birka

Gatis · January 31st, 2005, 01:18 PM

Curonians definitely were Vikings - they repeatedly crossed Baltic and invaded Oland island for a while, attacked Swedish, Danish, Polish coast. Being Viking is way of life, not nationality. This is plain robbery in a way... nothing to be very proud of. Of course, Curonians were attacked by other Vikings in return.

Gatis · January 31st, 2005, 01:26 PM

Did not know that Sigtuna is the oldest town in Sweden. Have been reading some Scandinavian archaeologists who try to find regional definition of medieval town. There have been town-style settlements in Scandinavia very long ago, f.e. fornborg in Oland island... when I lived there for one year, I managed to visit most of them. Damn interesting things!
F.e. Ismantorp with 88 stone buildings, 3rd - 5th century.

January 30th, 2005, 06:04 PM	#1
Ringil The Big Cheese Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Uppsala-Stockholm region & Sète Posts: 1,710	Sigtuna, the oldest town in Sweden Sigtuna is the oldest still existing town in Sweden. It was founded in the 10th century. The head street in Sigtuna, and its also the oldest street in Sweden, The ruins of St.Peters church, from the early 12th century. I really like ruins The ruins of St.Olof from the 12th century, a copy of the Nidarosdomen damn, lot of ruin pictures, well enough i say __________________ Ringil in: Barcelona. Nice & Monaco. Jakarta Bali Singapore Turin San Francisco Kilimanjaro Region

January 30th, 2005, 06:27 PM	#2
Maris VX The turn of the tide Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Baltic-Pontic Isthmus Posts: 335	Nice and interesting place to visit. AFAIk, Sigtuna was destroyed by the Latvian vikings in 1187 (it`s little known, but Latvian (Baltic) vikings traveled to Denmark and Sweden). __________________ INČUDAMBJA FILMA presents: Gwadar2Pudong We didn`t start the fire, It was always burning Since the world`s been turning (Billy Joel)

January 30th, 2005, 06:31 PM	#4
darkmage7280 In Exile Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Finland Posts: 33	Oh, okay. 'Cos I've been hearing conflicting versions of who were the culprits behind the burning of Sigtuna... Some say it was the Russians, some say Finnish & Estonian pirates. __________________ "Lord Melchett has bad news, Blackadder." "Lord Melchett is bad news, Ma'am."

January 30th, 2005, 06:38 PM	#5
Renx one of a kind Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tallinn, Eesti/Estonia/Estland Posts: 86	and I've heard it was a joint operation between Estonian and Curonian vikings. Anyway, nice thread __________________ Ulmefoorum

January 30th, 2005, 06:38 PM	#7
Maris VX The turn of the tide Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Baltic-Pontic Isthmus Posts: 335	No problem, Estonians, Karelians, Livs and Kurlanders, maybe all of them. Some say German crusaders came to end Kurlander and Estonian 'pirate' activities. __________________ INČUDAMBJA FILMA presents: Gwadar2Pudong We didn`t start the fire, It was always burning Since the world`s been turning (Billy Joel)

January 30th, 2005, 06:30 PM	#3
Qualtagh The Karelian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Unknown Posts: 73	Impressive. I thought Stockholm was the eldest before this thread.

January 30th, 2005, 06:39 PM	#8
DnH You gotta have teeth baby Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Stockholm Posts: 341	cool.. i live in sigtuna kommun in Märsta.. pretty close to sigtuna stad.. even tho i hate many of the people (snobs) in Sigtuna, its a nice, cosy town. __________________ a.

January 30th, 2005, 06:44 PM	#9
Vaidas Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Leeds/Vilnius Posts: 328	Looks very small... What is the population of the town? And the ruins are very nice __________________ My Photo threads: 6150 km in 14 days \|\| Lofoten Archipelago \|\| RV17: The coastal highway. \|\| London is Awesome. \|\| My time in Leeds my flickr

January 30th, 2005, 07:05 PM	#10
Qualtagh The Karelian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Unknown Posts: 73	Inspired by this thread, I googled the oldest (non-existing today) town in Sweden, Birka. Deserted at the end of 8th century.

January 30th, 2005, 07:22 PM	#11
PC Vantaalainen Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Vantaa, Finland Posts: 91	Very intresting and beautiful old town. This is definitely a place I would like to visit someday .

January 30th, 2005, 07:44 PM	#12
Ringil The Big Cheese Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Uppsala-Stockholm region & Sète Posts: 1,710	Sigtuna was destroyed by the people from the estonian island of Ösel. After that Birger Jarl build a fortress on a small island where the baltic sea meets the lake Mälaren. The island's name was Stockholm After that we did a lot of crusades to the eastern shores of the baltic sea.and we colonised Finland and of course attaced the island of Ösel (the big one) the smallest city hall in Sweden. __________________ Ringil in: Barcelona. Nice & Monaco. Jakarta Bali Singapore Turin San Francisco Kilimanjaro Region Last edited by Ringil; January 30th, 2005 at 08:03 PM.

January 30th, 2005, 07:33 PM	#13
Renx one of a kind Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tallinn, Eesti/Estonia/Estland Posts: 86	@Kommentare: maybe they weren't, I don't know, that's what I've heard at least. One book I have says that according to some Swedish sources, the attackers were Estonians and also pagan pirates, pagan Karelians, Baltic people and the Estonian fleet are mentioned. Anyway, the reason for this attack was probably the fact that Swedes were constantly raiding our lands. It's interesting, though, that all Baltic nations want to claim the "honour" of doing this. Of course, I understand, that at least regarding Estonians and Latvians, it's a question of national pride or smth, because we lost our independence and then we needed something to show our pre-historic might but actually being proud of killing a lot of innocent people and burning a city to the ground...well this "honour" is a bit questionable really. __________________ Ulmefoorum

January 30th, 2005, 07:38 PM	#14
John No analogues Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Posts: 1,446	I love old ruins. Although they could rebuild that church.

January 30th, 2005, 08:51 PM	#15
Hviid (former DLL) Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Copenhagen / Frederiksberg Posts: 2,447	really nice pictures Ringil __________________ ~ DLL / Hviid is in the army from the 1st of December ~

January 31st, 2005, 12:03 AM	#16
Mantas in action Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,133	Great pics and I love the church ruins __________________ *What was said on different forum, shouldn't be a matter here.* *TINKLE.Miestai.NET* forum Cities & Architecture

January 31st, 2005, 02:58 AM	#17
ZuluKingOfTheDwarfPeople Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Starbase 88 Posts: 119	I think the village Stockholm was founded on is older, but I guess it isnt considered as existing anymore...

January 31st, 2005, 01:18 PM	#19
Gatis Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Riga Posts: 4,158	Curonians definitely were Vikings - they repeatedly crossed Baltic and invaded Oland island for a while, attacked Swedish, Danish, Polish coast. Being Viking is way of life, not nationality. This is plain robbery in a way... nothing to be very proud of. Of course, Curonians were attacked by other Vikings in return. __________________ Ambermarks *- Landmarks of Latvia* Wondermondo - an armchair guide to world attractions

January 31st, 2005, 01:26 PM	#20
Gatis Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Riga Posts: 4,158	Did not know that Sigtuna is the oldest town in Sweden. Have been reading some Scandinavian archaeologists who try to find regional definition of medieval town. There have been town-style settlements in Scandinavia very long ago, f.e. fornborg in Oland island... when I lived there for one year, I managed to visit most of them. Damn interesting things! F.e. Ismantorp with 88 stone buildings, 3rd - 5th century. __________________ Ambermarks *- Landmarks of Latvia* Wondermondo - an armchair guide to world attractions

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