Lund Cathedral, Lund, Sweden

Lund Cathedral, one of the oldest stone buildings in Sweden, is not only a religious site but also a testament to the past. Constructed in the late 11th century, the cathedral was built as the Catholic cathedral of the archiepiscopal see of all the Nordic countries, dedicated to Saint Lawrence. Its architecture shows clear influences from contemporary north Italian architecture, conveyed via the Rhine Valley. The cathedral is home to several unusual statues, the most famous being the statues traditionally called 'The giant Finn and his wife' which are located in the crypt.

The cathedral also contains a main altarpiece from 1398, and has six church organs, one of which is the largest in Sweden. Today, Lund Cathedral is still a functioning church, owned by the Lutheran Church of Sweden. It also serves as a concert venue and is a popular tourist attraction. Lund and the cathedral belonged to Denmark at the time of its construction, and became part of Sweden in 1658. Much of the present exterior of the cathedral, including its distinctive twin towers, reflects Helgo Zettervall's extensive 19th-century restoration.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons