980c. 980 · Sigtuna

Founding of Sigtuna

The ruined stone tower of St Per's church in Sigtuna beside the old vicarage, in winter sunshine — Photo: Brorsson. CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Around 980 King Eric the Victorious founded Sigtuna on Lake Mälaren as a royal town, taking over the trading role Birka had played. Sweden's first coins were struck there for Olof Skötkonung in the 990s, and it became an early centre of the Church, with stone churches whose ruins still stand. Runestones from the late Viking Age survive in its streets.

Archaeology
Royalty & Monarchy
Religious & Pilgrimage
Stockholm, Sweden

Sites

Site 1: Stora gatan and the church ruinsThe medieval main street, runestones and the ruins of St Per's and St Olof's churches.Map ↗
Site 2: Sigtuna MuseumFinds from the Viking Age town, including its early coins.Map ↗