While we've had the car available this week, we took the time to visit some of the historic churches in the area.

Nynäshamn church, which you see featured as the background to many of our harbour shots is quite a new church, being built this century. You can see a picture and read about it here.

However, the other churches around the kommune date back to the 12th century. The first church we visited was in the nearby town of Ösmo. The oldest part of the church was built in the late 1100s and modernised during the 14th century.



It's present exterior is from the 15th century.



The inside (which we didn't see as it was closed) is adorned with lime-colour paintings from the mid 15th century by Peter MÃ¥lare (Peter the Painter) and his student Albertus Pictor, the most celebrated church painter of the Middle Ages (known for humourous paintings such as a pig playing the organ). The Swedish author August Strindberg also gave trial sermons here in the 19th century.

What I loved about it was the beautiful location - right in the heart of the country. Look at the "neighbours"



It is just so peaceful here and I thought the horses added a really rural touch.



The grounds were immaculate and so lush, green and heavily purfumed by the lovely spring flowers, including one of my favourites, the peony.



And the back of the church is just as neat and pristine as the front.



We travelled a short distance and looked back across the pasture to the church. What an idyll!



The next church was at Sorunda.



It is one of the biggest churches of the province of Södermanland. The oldest parts of the stone church have their origins in the 12th century.



The church was enlarged and altered repeatedly up until the 16th century. It was very ornate inside - such a surprise for a country church.



The noble families Bååth and Fleming, owners of the large estates Fållnäs and Fituna used the church for their funerals and the families have been responsible for the rich ornamentation of the church.





I love history and I think places like these really excite me and make me feel glad that I live in a land with such an old history.