Linkoping - Vreta Kloster's Cloister

Vreta Cloister (Kloster) near Linkoping, at Berg

And the Church at the Monastery (Nunnery?)

Kings Inside

Vreta Cloister, outside Church, Berg, Linkoping, Sweden

The old arbors and orchards still bear blossoms, and fruit.

Cloister and Garden area, Vreta Kloster, Linkoping, Berg, Sweden

Apple tree, Vreta Kloster Garden, Linkoping, Berg, Sweden

Vreta is one of the oldest monasteries in Sweden, founded by King Inge I and Queen Helena in about 1100.  See ://christianization.hist.cam.ac.uk/regions/sweden/sweden-eccl-org.html

Raised garden walls, ancient tree, Vreta Kloster, Linkoping, Berg, Sweden

Oldest fruit tree, Vreta Kloster

That is the church guide getting a nice sour apple from one of the trees believed to be from Reformation time, would you believe, centuries old and still bearing. One stalwart branch out there. Tasty, but pucker sour.

Model, Vreta Kloster before the Reformation, farm, church, community 

The Church at Vreta Kloster was obviously remodeled at some point.  See the difference in the square steeple on the model, and the newer steeple at top.

Contemplative and herb garden, Vreta Kloster

Medieval sub-ground baptismal area pool, Vreta Kloster (protected by glass enclosure)

This below-ground level areas is a Baptisterium.  Many carvings in Scandinavia and Northern Germanyshow persons being baptized in the nude. Perhaps the low level of the pool offered some privacy, although the representatons are not of persons descending steps. Germany Road Ways, Altarpiece, Church at Enger, Baptism

Baptisterium, Stone steps descending, baptismal pool, Medieval Vreta Kloster

Medieval Baptisterium

Preserved submersion pool, Baptisterium, Vreta Kloster (Baptismal).  Medieval

Medieval baptism pools, below ground, are often undiscovered.

Graveyard, countryside view, Vreta Kloster

Graffiti has also been found on/in buildings at Vreta, now in museums, see ://scienceblogs.com/aardvarchaeology/2007/05/medieval_monastic_graffitti_1.php

Ystad - Cloister Garden, Preserved Homes,

Gamla Stan, the old town, still boasts hundreds of historic half-timbered houses, some 300 scattered, and many on Ostergatan (gatan means "street" we concluded). Some sag here, but are buttressed up there, and look well-preserved. The oldest is said to date from 1630, but most are 1700's says an old Frommer.

Half-timber house, Ystad, Sweden

Prince Carl lived here, the Crown Prince - he was born in 1826, and stayed until he became king in 1859.  He is better known as King Charles XV.

Ystad, Sweden: Museum, Crown Prince Carl (crowned  King Charles XV in 1856)

Crown Prince Carl, residence as a child, Ystad, Sweden

St. Maria's Church.  This was a cloister until the 16th Century, then came the Reformation. 

St. Maria's Church, Ystad, Sweden

Many buildings have the stair-step roof, but they vary in pitch, how many steps up, and the design of windows and patterns below.  This one, to the right of the Church, is not the Grayfriars' Monastery, but also looks too small to be the Latin School, or the Brahehuset. Could be the Latin School.

Cloister Garden, St. Maria's Church, Ystad, Sweden

Birdbath indentation, Cloister Garden seating, St. Maria's Church, Ystad, Sweden