Riddarholmen Church was founded in 1270. This is the only Church in Stockholm that has been preserved since the Middle Ages. It is the necropolis of the Swedish monarchs, who were buried here from 1293 to 1950.
In the 1270s king Magnus I Ladulas gave land on the island Riddarholmen the Franciscans to build a Church and a monastery. And in 1293, he was the first monarch to be buried in this Church. Until 1527, the monastery flourished until king Gustav Vasa made Protestantism the state religion during the Reformation.
After that, the monks were forced to leave Stockholm. The buildings of the monastery began to be dismantled, but the Church was completely restored by king Johan III. At the same time, a high tower was built over it, which became one of the city`s dominant buildings. Its iron spire is visible from all the Islands of Stockholm. This spire of iron lace was installed in 1835, when the previous one was destroyed by a lightning strike.
Initially, the Church was two-nave. The third nave was added in the 16th century. Year by year the Church of Riddarholmen became wider, as it was attached to the Royal tombs of different dynasties: Vasa, Carolino, Bernadotte. There are also several crypts of noble dynasties: Torstensson, Levengaupt, Baner, Wasaborg.
