Täby Church

Täby Church (Swedish: Täby kyrka) is a medieval church in Täby Municipality, in the province of Uppland north of Stockholm. The church is best known for its painted walls and ceilings by Albertus Pictor.

History

The church was built during the second half of the 13th century. It was first constructed as a square hall church. In the mid-14th century a vestry was added and about 100 years later the church porch was built. During the second half of the 15th century, the flat wooden ceiling was replaced by a vaulted ceiling. The altarpiece dates from the 1470s. A runestone is immured in the church porch.

Paintings

The church is best known as one of the churches with mural paintings by Albertus Pictor (died 1511). The ceiling frescos are from the 1480s and, unlike many of his other works, were never whitewashed over. They include a picture of a man playing chess with Death, a motif that inspired Ingmar Bergman to a famous scene in the movie The Seventh Seal. The motif is very unusual, known only from one other source.

Täby

Täby is a trimunicipal locality and the seat of Täby Municipality in Stockholm County, Sweden, with 66,292 inhabitants in 2013. It is also partly located in Danderyd Municipality (the Enebyberg area) and a very small part of Sollentuna Municipality. However, Täby kyrkby in the northern part of Täby Municipality forms part of the Vallentuna urban area.

Täby consists of the following districts: Arninge, Ella Gård, Hacksta, Ella Park, Enebyberg, Ensta, Erikslund, Gribbylund, Hägernäs, Lahäll, Löttingelund, Lövbrunna, Näsbypark, Roslags Näsby, Skarpäng, Täby Centrum, Viggbyholm, Vallatorp, and Visinge.

Täby is famous for its racecourse, which is called "Täby Galopp". The course opened in 1960 and it replaced the earlier course Ulriksdal in Solna. The Center of Täby is called "Täby centrum", and it is one of the largest malls in Sweden.

European route E18 and Norrortsleden pass through Täby, as does the urban railway Roslagsbanan.

History

The name Täby is derived from tä, which is an old word that was used for "narrow road between roundpole fences", and by which means village. It is therefore believed that the Täby area was rich in such roads in the Viking age. The name Täby is found carved into the Jarlabanke Runestones, close to Täby church.