Västerplana kyrka
Kinnekulle

A 12th-Century Church Dedicated to the Virgin Mary

Västerplana Church was built during the 12th century and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Once condemned to demolition, the church survived thanks to the determined efforts of the local community. After more than a century of neglect, it was restored and is now regarded as one of Kinnekulle's most treasured historic landmarks.

History of the Church

The original medieval church was built on an east–west axis. In the early 18th century, north and south transepts were added, creating a cruciform church and reorienting the interior along a north–south axis.

The church is believed to have received its baptismal font as a gift from Bishop Bengt the Good during the 12th century. It is considered one of the finest medieval baptismal fonts in the Diocese of Skara.

The church's wooden sculpture of the Virgin Mary dates from the 13th century and is one of its most celebrated treasures. Remarkably, it has retained much of its original appearance. Opposite the Madonna stands a medieval sculpture of John the Baptist.

The church also contains a number of remarkable carved stone reliefs, including a depiction of a bishop. Wall paintings in the original chancel were added during the 1630s.

Within the old chancel stands the impressive stone baptismal font, traditionally believed to have been donated by Bishop Bengt the Good. The font is richly decorated with carved images and symbolic motifs, including the bishop's seal—a cross with inward-facing lilies in each corner.

The pulpit dates from 1636 and is richly ornamented with woodcarvings, painted figures, and sixteen inscribed panels, most bearing quotations from the Bible.

The ceiling paintings were completed during the 18th century and were inspired by the artistic tradition known as the Läckö School.

A Well-Preserved Historic Church

Västerplana Church is one of the few churches in the region to have escaped extensive rebuilding and modern alterations. Since 1737, both its exterior and interior have remained largely unchanged. A careful restoration was carried out in 1985, when the exterior was repaired and whitewashed, preserving the church's historic character for future generations.

Church Guide

The Church Guide app provides additional information about the churches in the region and can also be used as a guide during your visit. Download it here.

Getting Here by Public Transport

By Train

You can reach Västerplana Church by taking the Kinnekulle Line operated by Västtågen and getting off at Blomberg Station. From there, it is approximately 3.3 kilometres on foot to the church.

Journey planning is available through the Västtrafik website or the Västtrafik To Go app.

By Demand-Responsive Transport (Närtrafik)

Närtrafik, operated by Västtrafik, is an on-demand transport service designed for rural areas. It collects passengers from any address within a designated service area and transports them to a bus stop within the same municipality.

How it works:

Book by calling +46 (0)771 91 90 90 at least one hour before departure, within the scheduled operating hours.
The fare is the same as a regular single public transport ticket.
Payment can be made via the Västtrafik app, by card, or in cash.
Senior travel cards are accepted (subject to inspection), while Västtrafik period passes are not valid on Närtrafik services.

Västerplana kyrka Kinnekulle