Lund - Malmö Rugby Club and the Cathedral (10-April)

Since coming to Sweden, I've been looking forward to getting back into Rugby again, so I signed up with the Malmö Rugby Club (MRC).  I've been training with them and they had their first game on the 10th of April.

I was hoping to get a run but unfortunately I need an International Clearance - essentially a signed document from Onkaparinga (my Australian club) and SA Rugby stating that I was clear to play - I didn't have any outstanding contracts,suspensions, bans or fees.

It was a great game to watch, Malmö came out winners 35-5 against Lugi (Lund's Rugby Team) played at Lund Sports Park.  It was good to watch a game again.

Malmö are red, black and yellow, Lugi are maroon.

Lineout

Ruck

Ruck

Once the game finished up, we decided to take a walk to Lund Cathedral as we had heard that it was impressive.

The Lund Cathedral (Lunds Domkyrka) was founded in 1080 and consecrated in 1145. It was damaged in an extensive fire in 1234 and renovated in 1510, including the addition of a crypt.

The towers are 55m high, housing a church bell from 1513.

Lund Cathedral

Cathedral

Side of the Cathedral

The main doors are bronze with 24 reliefs from the bible - I didnt manage to get a picture of them as there was a bit of a crowd and several beggars who were blocking the path.

One of the special things inside the church is the Astronomical Clock - Horologium Mirabile Lundense.  It was constructed in 1380, move to storage in 1837 and restored and returned to the cathedral in 1923.

Astronomical Clock

Top of the Clock

The knights

At the top of the clock, two knights mark the hours.  The top is an astronomical clock marking the phases of the moon and where the sun will set.


The bottom panel of the clock is a calendar which shows when mobile religious holidays (such as Easter) fall as well as which day a certain date will be. In the centre of the bottom panel is Saint Lawrence the Patron Saint of the Cathedral and the symbols of the four evangelists.  The board runs from 1923 to 2123 (end of the world conspiracies, anyone?)


There are five organs in the cathedral, the biggest was manufactured in 1932 and is the largest in Sweden.

Below are some shots from around the main floor of the Cathedral:

Stairwell

Coat of Arms

Looking down the main hall towards the altar

The altar

Sculptures around an archway

Below the cathedral is the crypt.  It was consecrated in 1123 and has mostly been untouched.  It is filled with pillars, all different in style and many with carvings - built by the architect Donatus.  The altar in the crypt is the oldest in the church (consecrated 30 June 1123  by Archbishop Asser.)

The crypt has many crypts, sarcophagi and grave slabs, including the well and tomb of Archbisop Birger Gunnersen (created by Adam Van Duren in 1510).

The crypt was also home to an art display when we were there.

Looking into the crypt (it was dark so the photo came out a little blurry

Grave Slab

Grave Slab

Grave Slab

Grave Slab

Grave Slab

Grave Slab

Sarcophaus

The altar

Grave Slab

Pillar - believed to be Finn the Giant (builder of the cathedral) or Sampson from the bible

Grave Slabs

The Well

Sculptured pillar - possibly wife of Finn.