One of the largest churches in central Stockholm is St. Catherine's Church. It was built in the second half of the 17th century, and the author of the project was Jean de la Vallée, one of the best architects of that time.
King of Sweden Karl X Gustav also took part in the construction of the church, proposing to build a central nave and place the pulpit and altar on the right. The church was named after his mother Katarina, the daughter of King Karl IX and the wife of the Count Palatine of Kleeburg Johann Casimir.
In 1723, a major fire broke out in Stockholm, and St. Catherine's Church was seriously damaged. It took as many as 20 years to restore it! During the reconstruction, the building was made octagonal, and the roof was covered with copper.
However, two years after the renovation was completed, another major fire broke out, after which practically only the walls remained. The restoration was entrusted to Uwe Hidemark.
Today, St. Catherine's Church is of interest not only as an old building, but also as a kind of concert hall. In 2000, a magnificent organ by the Dutch firm J. L. van den Heuvel Orgelbouw appeared here, and not only local residents but also many visitors to Stockholm come to hear it.
