{{Infobox settlement |official_name = Varnhem |image_skyline = Varnhem innan munkarna kom, den 13 juni 2007, bild 7.jpg |image_caption = The stone foundation of the old church of Varnhem, dated 1040 or earlier |pushpin_map = Sweden Västra Götaland#Sweden |pushpin_label_position = |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = Sweden |subdivision_type3 = Municipality |subdivision_name3 = Skara Municipality |subdivision_type2 = County |subdivision_name2 = Västra Götaland County |subdivision_type1 = Province |subdivision_name1 = Västergötland |area_footnotes = <ref name=scb>{{cite web |url=http://www.scb.se/Statistik/MI/MI0810/2010A01/Tatorternami0810tab1_4.xls |title=Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km<sup>2</sup> 2005 och 2010 |date=14 December 2011 |publisher=Statistics Sweden |language=sv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127055525/http://www.scb.se/Statistik/MI/MI0810/2010A01/Tatorternami0810tab1_4.xls |archive-date=27 January 2012 |url-status=live |access-date=10 January 2012 }}</ref> |area_total_km2 = 0.80 |population_as_of = 31 December 2010 |population_footnotes = <ref name=scb /> |population_total = 707 <!-- This is the official figure from Statistics Sweden (Statistiska centralbyrån). --> |population_density_km2 = 889 |timezone = CET |utc_offset = +1 |timezone_DST = CEST |utc_offset_DST = +2 |coordinates = {{coord|58|23|N|13|39|E|region:SE|display=inline,title}} |blank_name = Climate |blank_info = Dfb |website = }} '''Varnhem''' is a locality situated in Skara Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 707 inhabitants in 2010.<ref name=scb />
Varnhem is the location of the oldest known stone church in Sweden outside of Scania<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-10-23 |title=Fynd i Varnhem ändrar historien - sr.se |url=http://www.sr.se/skaraborg/nyheter/artikel.asp?artikel=1215836 |access-date=2023-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023050014/http://www.sr.se/skaraborg/nyheter/artikel.asp?artikel=1215836 |archive-date=2007-10-23 |language=sv}}</ref> (which is attributed to Dalby Church), erected in the 1040s at the latest. It is also the location of a Christian cemetery which was in use during the end of the ninth century.
The Cistercian Order established Varnhem Abbey around 1150, not far from the old church. A new abbey church was erected to replace the older church; the abbey church is still in use.
==The Varnhem humerus== The Varnhem humerus was discovered in the cloister aisle in 1928. It is believed to date to between 1260 and 1527, and it is noteworthy because it shows evidence of healing after being repaired with a cylinder made of copper sheeting. It is an example of apparently successful advanced surgery carried out in the Middle Ages.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Schott |first1=Lothar |title=Schnürfurchen oder Gefäßspuren? |journal=Wissenschaftliche Zeitschrift der Humboldt-Universität Berlin: Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe |date=1969 |volume=18 |pages=813–816}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hallbäck |first1=Dan-Axel |title=A Medieval (?) Bone with a Copper Plate Support, Indicating an Open Surgical Treatment |journal=Ossa |date=1976 |issue=3/4 |pages=63–82}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=France |first1=James |title=The Cistercians in Scandinavia |date=1992 |publisher=Cistercian Publications |location=Kalamazoo, MI |page=229}}</ref>
==Notable people== Notable people that were born or lived in Varnhem include the following: * Birger Jarl ({{c.|1210}}–1266), statesman, and his family, buried in Varnhem * Anders Dahl (1751–1789), botanist, born in Varnhem
==Trivia== Varnhem and in particular its abbey has received additional attention in recent years due to it being the main location of ''The Knight Templar'' trilogy written by Jan Guillou, and subsequently filmed. Arn Magnusson, the hero character of the series is portrayed as living there.
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *[http://www.virtualsweden.se/projects/varnhem/default.htm Fullscreen Virtual Tour by Virtualsweden] *[http://www.vastsverige.com/en/skara/ Skara Tourist Office]
{{Localities in Skara Municipality}}
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Category:Populated places in Skara Municipality