Vadstena

The village of Vadstena, including the great estate on the ridge-slope towards Lake Vättern, grew in importance in the late Iron Age, due to its excellent harbour, which shipped grain produced in the surrounding countryside. Iron and other raw materials from Bergslagen were delivered to Vadstena. The “lagoon” at the Vadstena “People´s High School”, timbered caissons and wooden piles in the lake are remnants of this harbour. Probably there was another port at Sanden where Vadstena castle now stands. Vadstena may have originated as a port and fishing village linked to a local inland centre - maybe Hov, Aska or Bjälbo.

Because of its location, Vadstena was an important trading centre, but it was also a halting place on the pilgrim´s way to St. Olaf´s shrine at Nidaros in Norway. The medieval pilgims´ routes formed a network with destinations – holy places, trinity wells, miraculous images of the Madonna and saints, throughout Europe. Both Nidaros/Trondhjem and Santiago di Compostella, which became international pilgrim´s destinations, are located in places on the fringes of Europe, and access was difficult. In Scandinavia the pilgrims´ roads coincided with the roads used by the kings, on their travel between the royal demesnes. The cult of St. Olaf started in 1031, in the year after his death and, as a result, innumerable pilgrims passed through Vadstena until 1374, when the relics of St. Birgitta were transferred to Vadstena from Rome. Vadstena then became the most important destination for pilgrims in Scandinavia and as a result, also had a momentous impact on the history of roadways.
In the 13th century, the Vadstena mansion belonged to the royal branch of the Folkunga ­family.

Excavations in the palace area have revealed foundations of older buildings, and finds of coins date them to the 10th century. The Romanesque stone church from the 12th century, belonging to the estate was situated on the east-west oriented ridge. There was also a cemetery with some of the burials older than the church, which indicates an earlier ­wooden church. Today the “Red Tower” of its successor – the 15th century parish church of St. Per – stands on the same site.

The extension of the town was limited to the north and the south by marshland along Lake Vättern which has had an impact on the lie of the roads. A stream which served as the border between the hundreds of Aska and Dal ran through the town. The road from Skänninge passed the site of the present Abbey church to the harbour, close to today´s “People´s High School”.

The Royal Route left the town at Tuledet (the fork) and continued south towards Alvastra.