Bjälbo church

Church

As a monument to the once grand history of the now small agricultural village, the church with its robust tower stands in lush greenery in the middle of the Östgöta plains. Here lay the powerful estate of the Bjälbo clan, or the Folkunga dynasty.

The church was built in the first half of the 12th century as one of the early stone churches in Östergötland. The church building is characterized both internally and externally by the ideals of the Gustavian era following a reconstruction in the 18th century, featuring enlarged windows and a centered southern portal. However, here and there sections of medieval plaster can be seen on the facade.

Bjälbo is known to be the birthplace of Birger Jarl. But concerning the large tower construction in the 13th century, it is his mother Ingrid Ylva who is the main character. She is said to have inherited Bjälbo from her father Sune Sik, son of King Sverker the Elder, and was the one who planned and commissioned the tower construction. The tower is one of the largest in the diocese, with a width of 10 meters, a height of 21 meters, and a spire measuring 18 meters. The beautiful wrought-iron door has been moved from the church's south portal, which was bricked up in the 1780s. A dendrochronological dating of the door's wood shows that it was cut down in 1220-1240. The ironwork has probably been reused after the church burned down before 1240. A staircase up in the tower contains two barrel-vaulted rooms.

One flight up in the tower, there are two vaulted chambers. The first chamber has served as a living room. During the archaeological investigation, food waste and other items were found that indicate its residential function. The second chamber has a door that could be locked from the inside and is called Ingrid Ylva's chamber. The chamber may have functioned as a safe shelter for members of the Bjälbo family during troubled times.

The church is located on the road between Skänninge and Väderstad. Signage from E4 exit Mjölby towards Skänninge. Follow the signs towards Bjälbo.