During the Protestant reformation in Sweden in the 16th century, church attendance was demanded of all parishioners, and later in 1861, a regulation ordering it was introduced. Church towns built up to house those who lived too far away to attend church on a day trip. Skellefteå's Bonnstan, a kyrkstad (church town), was one of 47 in the Norrbotten and Västerbotten counties and has been well preserved. There are 114 dark buildings containing 376 rooms. It's fascinating stroll through these legally protected streets.
© folgt/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Bonnstan
Top choice in The Bothnian Coast
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
0.5 MILES
This is the oldest wooden bridge in Sweden, completed in 1837, and until 2006, at 207m in length, it was also the longest. It was a toll bridge at first,…
0.35 MILES
This municipal contemporary art museum is dedicated to the life and work of Anna Norlander (1843–1879), a well-known painter born in Skellefteå. She was…
0.33 MILES
This 55m-tall neoclassical church in its current incarnation dates from 1796, but its sacristy is from 1507 and inside is a 13th-century wooden Virgin of…
Nearby The Bothnian Coast attractions
0.33 MILES
This 55m-tall neoclassical church in its current incarnation dates from 1796, but its sacristy is from 1507 and inside is a 13th-century wooden Virgin of…
2. Museum Anna Nordlander (MAN)
0.35 MILES
This municipal contemporary art museum is dedicated to the life and work of Anna Norlander (1843–1879), a well-known painter born in Skellefteå. She was…
0.5 MILES
This is the oldest wooden bridge in Sweden, completed in 1837, and until 2006, at 207m in length, it was also the longest. It was a toll bridge at first,…