Venture into the northernmost reaches of the Baltic Sea and discover Lulea, a peaceful town nestled on the Luleälven River, one of Sweden’s longest waterways. On the countless islands just beyond the river’s mouth, you might spot playful seals basking in the sun. Lulea is the gateway to a truly unique UNESCO World Heritage site, the Church Town of Gammelstad, a mesmerizing jumble of over 400 red-and-white painted wooden buildings surrounding a 15th-century church. In the past, the region was dotted with small, far-flung settlements, and worshippers traveled large distances to attend services at the church and stayed in the surrounding houses overnight so as not to undertake the arduous journey home until the following day.
