St Mary's Church (Sankta Maria kyrka) is the medieval parish church at the heart of Ystad, dating from the early 13th century with later Gothic and Baroque additions. The brick exterior is whitewashed, the interior is austere with a notable 17th-century pulpit and altarpiece, and the bell tower rises over the surrounding houses. The watchman's tradition — a guard blowing the all-clear from the tower every quarter hour through the night — has continued unbroken for nearly 400 years.
The church is open to visitors most days outside services. Free. Position on Stortorget, the main square.