Riseberga - Tångeråsa, Munkastigen Etapp 1

Take a trip back in time and walk in the footsteps of the monks on the exciting pilgrimage trail Munkastigen. The Monks' Trail starts at the oldest building in Västernärke, Riseberga monastery ruins. Riseberga was a nunnery built in the 12th century where, among others, the daughters of St. Birgitta lived. Other sights along the first stage are Edsberg church where you can see a baptismal font from the Middle Ages. In Tångeråsa you can visit one of Sweden's few preserved wooden churches from the Middle Ages. You also shouldn't miss the rare stained glass windows in the church.

RISEBERGA MONASTERY RUINS AND THE COUNTRY'S SECOND OLDEST PRAYER HOUSE.

Riseberga Monastery has become a symbol of Lekeberg and is the oldest "building" in Västernärke. The monastery was a Cistercian monastery built in the 1100s. Riseberga was home to an abbess, nuns and converse (lay sisters). They also had help from lay brothers - who were allowed to live on the outside of the monastery. In 1341, Ulf Gudmarsson and Birgitta Birgersdotter, the Holy Birgitta, put their daughter Ingeborg as a novice in Riseberga. Their daughter Katarina also came there later. The Riksdag in Västerås in 1527, the Reformation Riksdag, withdrew all monasteries from the crown. However, there were some nuns left in Riseberga until about 1560. In 1855, the prayer house at Riseberga was completed. The prayer house is the second oldest in the country.

EDSBERG CHURCH.

The trail passes Edsberg church, the oldest parts of which date back to the mid-12th century. Attractions are the medieval baptismal font and a medieval door with ironwork on the south side of the church.

THE NATURE RESERVE TRYSTORPS EKÄNG.

The Trystorp Oak Meadow Nature Reserve is part of one of the county's largest contiguous broadleaf forests. Many informative signs along the paths tell about the flowers and trees found in the reserve. Under the oaks, wood anemones cover the ground in spring. Among other things, a lot of lungwort grows here.

TÅNGERÅSA MEDIEVAL WOODEN CHURCH.

Tångeråsa church is one of Sweden's few preserved wooden churches from the Middle Ages. Of the large number of wooden churches built in the Middle Ages, only a dozen remain in the country today. The church has undergone few rebuilds and has retained its medieval plan form. In a small window in the church there are something as rare as two medieval stained glass windows. The paintings, dating from the 14th century, depict the Apostle Andrew with his cross and Mary Magdalene with her anointing vessel. Very few stained glass windows from the Middle Ages are preserved in Sweden. Most are found on Gotland.