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 59klostret@ystad.se www.klostret.se

EDUC ATION

Curator Kristina Buhrgard Phone: +46 411 577 605Mobile: +46 709 477 605 kristina.buhgard@ystad.se

KULTURMAGASINET (THE CULTURE WAREHOUSE)

Collections Curator Ingela Bergils Phone: +46 411 577 717Mobile: +46 709 477 717ingela.bergils@ystad.se

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

SUB ROSAinfo@subrosa.nuwww.subrosa.nu

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