Övraby kyrkoruin

Halmstad has not always been where it is today. Until the 14th century, the city was located by the area that is today called Övraby, or ‘the upper village’, which is located near the Kärleken district. The ruins seen in Övraby today are not from the first church that stood at this site. As early as the 11th century, a wooden church was believed to have been built on this site, which was called Maria Church. This in turn was replaced by a stone church in the 12th century and underwent several renovations. It consisted of a rowhouse and an apse. The baptismal font was placed on a high podium in the western part of the nave. In addition to the usual north and south portals, there was also a wide portal to the west. This part was probably reserved for the king or his royal representatives when they visited the nearby estate. The stone church was destroyed during the Nordic Seven Years' War in 1563 and was subsequently closed down. This is an interesting place with a storied past, a must visit if you’re a history buff.