German Church, Stockholm

German Church, Stockholm tickets: which one to buy

The German Church stands in the middle of Gamla Stan, Stockholm's old town, its tall copper spire rising above the narrow lanes near the royal palace. Entry has been free for much of the year, with a modest charge introduced in the busiest summer months, and the church closes for services and concerts. Walking tours of the old town pass the church and sometimes go inside; they also explain why a German congregation settled here, which is the key to the building.

The carillon in the tower plays hymn tunes several times a day, and hearing it from the lanes below is part of the experience of the old town. Concerts and organ recitals are held regularly. The church is five minutes from the palace, the cathedral and the Nobel museum, so it fits easily into a morning in Gamla Stan, and the lanes around it are among the quietest on the island. Programmes of summer lunchtime concerts are posted in the porch.

Visiting German Church, Stockholm: what to see

German merchants and craftsmen were a powerful presence in medieval Stockholm, and they formed a guild dedicated to Saint Gertrude, whose guildhall stood on this site. In 1571 the German congregation was granted the right to worship here, and the building was enlarged into a church in the following decades. The spire, rebuilt after a fire in 1878, reaches about ninety-six metres and is a landmark of the city skyline. Inside, the church is a two-aisled hall with a rich baroque interior.

The most striking feature is the royal gallery, a gilded and carved pew designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Younger in the 1670s, raised on columns so the royal family could attend services without mixing with the congregation. There is a fine black and white marble altar, a carved pulpit and paintings on the ceiling. The congregation still holds services in German, and the church belongs to the Church of Sweden. The tower bells include some of the oldest in Sweden, and the carillon mechanism was modernised in the twentieth century.

German Church, Stockholm opening hours and the best time to go

Summer is the busy season in Gamla Stan, when cruise passengers fill the lanes between late morning and afternoon; early morning and evening are much quieter. The church keeps shorter opening hours out of season. Christmas brings a market on the main square of the old town, and carol services here are popular. Winter days are short and dark, but the old town is atmospheric with its lights and snow.

The carillon can be heard at set times throughout the day. The Changing of the Guard at the palace takes place at midday and draws crowds. The whole of Gamla Stan can be walked in an hour or two. Allow twenty minutes in the church, and look up at the royal gallery rather than only at the altar. The old town is compact, and the church is ten minutes on foot from the ferry quays of Slussen.