Hospitalstenen (the Hospital Stone)

Hospitalstenen is a runestone from the early Middle Ages, probably carved around the 1100s. It was erected in memory of Johan by his son Folke, as indicated by the runic inscription.

The stone illustrates how people honoured their loved ones and used writing to preserve their memory during the transition from the Viking Age to the Christian Middle Ages.

The stone takes its name from its association with a ‘hospital church’, which is believed to have stood nearby. In the Middle Ages, ‘hospitals’ were often linked to the church and provided early forms of healthcare and care facilities for the sick, poor and elderly. This shows that Visingsö was not only a centre of royal power and politics but also served important social and ecclesiastical functions.

Hospitalstenen is therefore a valuable historical source. It provides an insight into religion, healthcare, commemorative culture and social organisation in early medieval Sweden.

Administrator: Visingsö Local Heritage Society