Greyfriars Abbey, Ystad

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The Abbey in Ystad, sometimes also simply Greyfriars Abbey is a medieval former friary in Ystad, Sweden. Together with Vadstena Abbey, it is one of the most well-preserved medieval monasteries in Sweden. It today houses the Museum of the cultural history of Ystad .HistoryAccording to an inscription from the 14th century, the monastery was founded by a donation by a knight called Holmger and his wife Katarina in 1267 and inaugurated by the Bishop of Reval. From the outset, it belonged to the Franciscan order, who were popularly known as grey friars (hence the name of the monastery), and functioned as a friary for friars. Throughout the Middle Ages several documented donations to the monastery took place.In 1532, amidst the ongoing reformation in Denmark, the Danish king Frederick I ordered the Franciscans to leave the monastery. They were however not allowed to leave in peace as the citizens of Ystad took the matter in their own hands and forcibly evicted the monks on 24 March 1532. Subsequently, the building was transformed into an almshouse. Little is known of the building's fate during this time, but sometime, probably during the early years of the 1600s, the western and northern wings of the building were pulled down, quite possibly due to a lack of funding. The brick was probably sold as building material and used in the building of some nearby manor or castle.

"Klostret i Ystad är Ystads stadshistoriska museum och en av Sveriges äldsta bevarade klosterbyggnader. Ett attraktivt besöksmål för kulturintresserade i Sverige, Ystad och Österlen.Klostret i Ystad är en plats för upplevelse och kontemplation i historisk miljö. Här kan du ta del av Klostrets och Ystadstraktens kulturarv och historia genom våra utställningar. Njut av doftande och läkande växter i örtagården och kålgården och upptäck mångfalden av vackra rosor och pioner i rosariet och pionträdgården. Klosterkyrkan är byggnadens äldsta del och används både som museum och kyrka. Museets butik säljer design och hantverk i form av glas, keramik, och smide."