Bunge church

Bunge church is a mediaval chuch in the North of Gotland that was built in the XIVth century. It uses a double-nave architecture which is very particular to medieval Gotland churches. It originated in the need for the churches to become more fireproof by building stone vault over the church. With the size of the churches increasing, one or two pillars were build in the middle of the church to support the stone roofing.

The walls are decorated with frescos.

The style of the frescos in Bunge church are "Bohemisk pating style" from the late XIVth century. The centre of the picture below on the left represents the miracle of transubstantiation, corresponding to the change of the bread and wine in the body of Christ, one of the dogma of the catholic faith. The reformation in Sweden started in 1527, therefore after the paintings were executed.

The frieze belows are including a large number of battle scenes. There are different interpretations of these battles. One considers that it depicts the Teutonic Order knights chasing the Victual Brotherhood pirates from Gotland in 1398 or chasing the hordes of Queen Margareta in 1404. However, it more probably represents the legend of the Theban legions converting to christianity and undergoing then martyrdom in 286 by being thrown in a thorny thicket.