Luleå’s old town, known as Gammelstad Church Town, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The first building, going back several hundred years, was the church. However, its main purpose was not actually to spread or maintain religion. There was not enough population to justify that. A peace agreement between Sweden and Russia left the northern border quite ambiguous. So, in order to establish an unambiguous claim to that land, Sweden sent the church to establish a presence. Churches during this era were not just centers of worship but also functioned as the backbone of commerce and government.
The region, mostly populated by farmers, was the size of Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg combined. For many, attending church was not just a quick ride down the street and required staying overnight. These people needed a place to stay, so cottages were built surrounding the church, effectively establishing what is known as a “church town.” Today Gammelstad Church Town is the best preserved, with over 400 structures still standing. Unlike most other church towns from this era, it was spared being knocked down and rebuilt upon because the elevation rose. This elevation change, the result of melted glaciers no longer applying pressure to the land, forced a relocation of the harbor far enough away that the new town of Luleå never grew to overtake the old town.
This site is still used by churchgoers today.
// Oliver – Day 28 – Sweden