Nydala Abbey (Swedish:Nydala kloster) was aCistercian monastery in the province ofSmåland,Sweden, near the lake Rusken. Although the abbey ceased to operate in the 16th century, its church was renovated and converted into aProtestant church during the 17th century and is still in use. The church belongs to theChurch of Sweden and is part of theDiocese of Växjö.
Nydala (from Swedishny, meaningnew, anddal, meaningvalley) was calledSancta Maria de Nova Valle or justNova Vallis inLatin. It was founded in 1143 byCistercian monks sent out fromClairvaux Abbey in France. Together withAlvastra andRoma Abbey, it is one of the oldest Cistercian abbeys in Sweden.[1][2] It is furthermore unique in Sweden in that the Cistercian ideal of almost complete isolation was respected: the abbey was built in an area away from any settlement.[1] The abbey took slightly over a hundred years to complete, and the church was not inaugurated until 1266.[3][4] Rather little is known about the abbey's active period during theMiddle Ages. It has been described as "once rich and powerful".[2] As late as 1503, a letter of protection for the abbey was issued by thePope Julius II.[2]
In 1521, theKing Christian II lodged in the abbey during his return journey from Stockholm and theStockholm Bloodbath. Although treated well by the monks, on leaving the abbey he had theabbot and five of the monks drowned in theNydala Abbey Bloodbath, and plundered the church.[2][5] The event could possibly be explained by the fact that the abbey may have been run and populated by members of theSwedish nobility that formed part of the resistance against Danish rule.[2] Soon after, in 1527 during theSwedish Reformation,King Gustavus Vasa appropriated the abbey and confiscated its remaining valuables in accordance with theReduction of Gustav I of Sweden.[4][2] The Swedish Crown confiscated its lands, and from some of these were formed a Crown Estate manor which would later become Nydala Manor, located nearby.[1] The local peasants resisted these changes and murdered the first administrator that the Crown sent to take over the abbey.[2] The abbey suffered again during theNorthern Seven Years' War, when it was burnt and pillaged by Danish troops in 1568.[5]
During the 1680s, parts of the medieval church were renovated and began to be used as a Lutheran parish church.[1] The church was re-inaugurated in 1688.[4]
In 1952 the former gatehouse chapel of the abbey, the so-called "farmers' church", was renovated.[4] The main church was renovated in 1964–67.[3]
The presently visible church consist of the easternmost parts of the medieval abbey church. The western part was torn down during the renovation during the 17th century. Apart from the originalchoir andtransept, a northern and southern chapel also remain of the original church. One of these have been converted into asacristy. Two further such chapels have disappeared during the course of time.[3][2]
The church was built according to the ideas and ideals ofCistercian architecture as developed in France.[1] It was from the outset characterised by simplicity and austerity in form and decoration.[5] The building material is greygneiss.[3] Especially the eastern end of the church retains several fine details and displays much of its original medieval character.[3][2] Internally, many of the church fittings date from theBaroque era, including thealtarpiece and thepulpit. Thepews and the organ platform are decorated byPehr Hörberg.[3]
The church originally formed one side of a quadrangle or courtyard surrounded on the other sides by buildings of which nothing but a few ruins remains today, and the abbey was surrounded by a wall.[5] The aforementioned gatehouse chapel still survives.[3] Another building nearby which may be medieval may have contained the abbey stables.[1] The woodenbell tower was built during the early 18th century.[3] In 2004, a project was initiated to reconstruct a medieval abbey garden next to the church.[4]
Nydala Manor is located just north of the former abbey complex. The first manor was built around 1650, but in its present shape the building dates from 1790, built in a so-calledGustavian style. The manor is one of the finest representatives of the style inJönköping County.[1]
57°19′22.76″N14°20′28.57″E / 57.3229889°N 14.3412694°E /57.3229889; 14.3412694
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
