THE ABBEY IN YSTAD
A website presenting a vast number of heritage sites in Ystad-Österlen. From beautiful heritage farms and interesting museums to monuments like the “King’s Tomb” in Kivik and Ales stenar.Information about accommodation, restaurants, cafés as well as events and current exhibitions. www.kulturhistorien.se
THE ABBEY AND MEDIEVAL YSTAD The Abbey in Ystad – Once the Franciscans’ centre for
people to meet. Not only for religious purposes, but also as a conveyor of news in the fi elds of
architecture, handicrafts, medicine, agriculture, science and humanitarianism. In some ways, we
remain such a centre to this day. A living museum spreading knowledge through experience.
We present our history in relation to the major contemporary issues and offer our visitors an
experience for all the senses. A place for contemplation. A place to return to.
PUBLISHER
Klostret i YstadYstads Kommun
EDITOR
Håkan Nilsson
L AYOUT & DESIGN
Helsinkifrostbites ABCreative Agencywww.helsinkifrostbites.com
ART DIRECTOR
Harri PaavolainenPy Paavolainen
COPY
Håkan NilssonKristina BuhrgardIngela Bergils
PHOTO
Lucas Gölénwww.lucasgolen.seFredrik Ekblad (p. 3, 17 and the signs p. 21)
PRINTERS
Tryckfolket AB www.tryckfolket.se
PAPER
Omslag - Multiart Silk 200 gInlaga - Multiart Silk 150 g
T YPE
Frutiger
COVER
Photo - Lucas GölénPartial UV-lacquer
In the well-preserved centre of Ystad, buildings from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Empire
coexist with stately brick architecture and low buildings from past centuries. The small scale is
carefully blended with exciting architecture from our own time. The oldest are St Mary’s Church
and the Franciscan Abbey from the 13th century.
Ystad is a city worth looking at and strolling through!
The Franciscan Monastery movement was founded in 1210 by Francis of Assisi who was canon-
ized two years after his death. The movement spread through Europe like a revival. In Ystad,
a Knight called Holmger and his wife Catherine donated funds to the building of the abbey in
1267. The friars remained infl uential here until the Reformation in 1532, when the abbey was
converted into a hospital. In the 1700s, the buildings were used as a distillery and in the 1800s
as a granary. The north and the west wing had already collapsed by the 1600s, but there are
plans to have them rebuilt.
Below: medieval construction, illustration from 1475-1500
In 1887 the town of Ystad decided to demolish the abbey. There was a “Battle for the Abbey”
where the conservation side won. The abbey reopened in 1912 after extensive renovation and
became Ystad’s fi rst cultural center with library and exhibitions. In 1994 the abbey was again
given a facelift and in 2011 the buildings were again renovated for accessibility. The abbey’s
rose garden was inaugurated in 2002, and has since been expanded to include a number of
beautiful historic gardens. The abbey in Ystad is Sweden’s oldest remaining medieval monastery
and is Ystad’s largest historical attraction. The site has approximately 70,000 visitors per year,
not including those to the gardens.
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THE ABBEY’S EXHIBITIONS The architecture of the abbey itself constitutes one of the biggest
attractions with the rooms and facades but also the great abbey church whose altar was
consecrated to St. Peter. The abbey church is owned by the municipality but is used both as
a church and a museum. Current activities in the abbey are inspired by the monastic period
and the important and progressive values the abbey passed on to the locality: art, literature,
architecture, science, medicine, gardening, crafts and agriculture. Franciscans also looked after
and protected the persecuted and the poor, animals, the environment and nature.
Can you imagine a better place to discuss life and ethics than in a former monastery?
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The abbey’s limited space does not allow long-term exhibitions. Major two or three-year pro-
jects make it possible to immerse oneself in various parts of the history of Ystad and the abbey,
both in time and space. Every year we have three or four temporary exhibitions and a gallery
displaying parts of Fornminnesföreningen’s (Ancient Monuments Association) large photo col-
lection. We also need to refl ect important current affairs in the city and municipality, when for
example an industry is closed down or an important social function or business celebrates its
centenary. Our future plans include a maritime exhibit on the abbey’s unfurnished top fl oor.
“The Land gave birth to Man - the Sea created the City,” asserts an old Ystad proverb.
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The educational activities are based both on the abbey’s exciting history and the museum’s vari-
ous exhibitions with diverse themes. In the workshop you can work hands-on with the manu-
facture or design of items related to the theme you want to work with. For example, one can
book a tour of the city or a garden walk.
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE Children and young people are a prime target audience for
the abbey. The abbey has an educational workshop and trained staff who are specially engaged
in school activities. We also cooperate with Charlotte Berlin’s museum and the children’s activi-
ties organised by the Art Museum and City Library and with the museums’ network for educa-
tion in southern Sweden.
We can offer: Historical lectures, guided tours of current exhibitions, seasonal walks in the gar-
dens, city tours, medieval dinners and regional evenings with snacks. We are happy to create
tailored experiences to meet your specifi c desires. Please contact us!
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THE ABBEY’S PROGRAMME The abbey’s programme is enriched from cooperation with local
associations, primarily with Ystad’s Fornminnesförening (Ancient Monuments Association)
which shares the Abbey’s scope of activity, but also with Sub Rosa, Ystad’s Gardening Society.
In recent years, we have also developed an excellent collaboration with Österlens Museum, the
Culture in Tomelilla and Glimmingehus with the common platform www.kulturhistorien.se.
The abbey and Österlens Museum are also members of www.matrundan.se where we empha-
size the cultural and historical aspects of food.
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THE ANCIENT MONUMENTS ASSOCIATION For over 100 years Ystad’s Fornminnesförening
(Ancient Monuments Association) has watched over Ystad’s heritage. The town’s reputation as
an historic medieval city rests largely on the association’s action to prevent the demolition of
historically signifi cant buildings and environments. The association owns historical collections
that are nurtured and renewed in cooperation with the municipal museum offi cials. Before the
Board of the abbey became a part of Ystad’s Cultural Authority, the association ran all activities
at the abbey. Through the years it has been a major support to the abbey’s business, not least
with regard to the ongoing documentation of Ystad’s history. There is also a “Little Ancient
Monuments Association” operated in cooperation with the abbey’s educators.
Membership of Ystad Fornminnesförening brings many benefi ts!
Documenting changes in Ystad is an important task that is made possible thanks to the Ystad
Archaeological Society’s annual publication of books on”Ystadiana”. Since 1917, the association
has published yearbooks. Since 1990, the yearbook has been thematized and with each book,
another important piece of Ystad’s history is documented for posterity.
COLLECTIONS AND DOCUMENTATION Kx
Kulturmagasinet (The Culture Warehouse)
in the Regimental area became a welcome
reality in 1999. This new facility made it pos-
sible to collect all of Ystad’s cultural heritage
in one place. Three collections are cared for
and preserved here: Ystad Municipality’s art
collection, Charlotte Berlin’s collections and
the collections of Ystad’s Ancient Monuments
Association. The last is the largest and covers
about 40 000 objects, archival materials and
glass plates. To view any of the public collec-
tions, call and schedule an appointment.
In the future will be possible to view every-
thing on the internet.
The latest addition is a peony garden. Peonies
are yet another novelty introduced by monas-
ticism and has through the centuries become
a beloved representative of the Scania garden.
Ystad’s Gardening Association, “Sub Rosa”,
was formed in connection with the inaugura-
tion of the rose garden in 2002. The associa-
tion resides in the gardens around the Abbey.
In season it organises nighttime tours of both
the rose garden and peony garden.
ABBEY GARDENS The staff of the municipal
park department and the Abbey have coop-
erated to recreate the gardens around the
Abbey. We do not know what they looked
like originally, but we know that the monas-
tery must have cultivated vegetables and root
vegetables in addition to begging for alms to
make ends meet.
The rose has been an important symbol of the
Virgin Mary and a medicinal plant for the pro-
duction of medicines and ointments.
An apple orchard probably also existed.
MUSEUM SHOP AND CAFE The Abbey has an interesting museum shop and a book section
that contains history, costume and textile history, gardening, culinary history and many more
fascinating topics. We sell unique crafts that represent Österlen but also spices, oils, soaps and
beautiful fabrics. Here you will fi nd those beautiful and original gifts.
We also have a small café where you can get some rest in the abbey’s beautiful and tranquil
environment. In summer you can take your coffee outside and enjoy the beautiful gardens!
Today the museum is open from June to
August and guided tours are scheduled. There
is a small museum shop and in 2011 there will
be new business on the top fl oor. The museum
is a foundation where the town of Ystad is
one of the founders.
CHARLOTTE BERLIN’S MUSEUM Miss
Charlotte Berlin’s Museum is a little gem on
Dammgatan 23 in Ystad. The original lady
was a great character. She never married,
but through good business sense, built up a
large fortune. She died in 1916 and donated
almost all her wealth and her home to the
town of Ystad. It is a unique environment that
shows a typical late-19th century home in best
“klunkestil”, as they say in Danish.
Charlotte Josephina Euphrosyne Aurora Con-
stantia Berlin started out as a piano teacher.
But as her fortune grew, she invested a lot of
time and money in her collection of antiques.
In particular, she collected table- and stand-
ing clocks and silver stamped in Ystad, but
also textiles and the local miscellany we call
“Ystadiana”.
PUBLISHER
Klostret i YstadYstads Kommun
EDITOR
Håkan Nilsson
L AYOUT & DESIGN
Helsinkifrostbites ABCreative Agencywww.helsinkifrostbites.com
ART DIRECTOR
Harri PaavolainenPy Paavolainen
COPY
Håkan NilssonKristina BuhrgardIngela Bergils
PHOTO
Lucas Gölénwww.lucasgolen.seFredrik Ekblad (p. 3, 17 and the signs p. 21)
PRINTERS
Tryckfolket AB www.tryckfolket.se
PAPER
Omslag - Multiart Silk 200 gInlaga - Multiart Silk 150 g
T YPE
Frutiger
COVER
Photo - Lucas GölénPartial UV-lacquer
KLOSTRET I YSTAD Opening times Tue-Fri 12-17Sat-Sun 12-16extended opening times in summer
RECEPTION & BOOKING, MUSEUM SHOP
Mail Address: Klostret i Ystad, Culture and Education Ystads kommun, 271 80 Ystad. Visiting Address:S:t Petri Kyrkoplan, Ystad.Phone: +46 411 577 286 Fax: +46 411 123 [email protected] www.klostret.se
EDUC ATION
Curator Kristina Buhrgard Phone: +46 411 577 605Mobile: +46 709 477 605 [email protected]
KULTURMAGASINET (THE CULTURE WAREHOUSE)
Collections Curator Ingela Bergils Phone: +46 411 577 717Mobile: +46 709 477 [email protected]
CHARLOTTE BERLIN’S MUSEUMOpening times 1 June-31 AugustMon-Fri 12-17Sat-Sun 12-16Postal address:Dammgatan 23271 42 YstadPhone in opening season +46 411 188 66.For bookings out of season call the abbey+46 411 577 286
YSTADS FORNMINNESFÖRENING(ANCIENT MONUMENTS ASSOCIATION )
Mail Address:Hospitalsgatan 4271 34 Ystad.Visiting address:S:T Petri KyrkoplanTo apply for membership please callPhone +46 411 577 856 or email.info@ystadsfornminnesförening.sewww.ystadsfornminnesforening.se
OTHER PARTNERSwww.matrundan.sewww.kulturhistorien.se
THE ABBEY IN YSTAD
A website presenting a vast number of heritage sites in Ystad-Österlen. From beautiful heritage farms and interesting museums to monuments like the “King’s Tomb” in Kivik and Ales stenar.Information about accommodation, restaurants, cafés as well as events and current exhibitions. www.kulturhistorien.se