Top Historic Sights in Odense, Denmark
Explore the historic highlights of Odense
Odense Cathedral
The present Odense Cathedral dates primarily from the 13th century, but it was built on the foundations of an earlier travertine church that was built in 1095. During the civil war between Eric IV and his brother, Abel, Odense and the cathedral were burned down in 1247. The present church was constructed in several phases to replace the aging and inadequate stone church in about 1300 by Bishop Gisico (1287–1300). The ne ...
Founded: c. 1300 |
Location:
Odense, Denmark
St. Canute's Abbey
St. Canute's Benedictine Abbey (Skt Knuds Kloster) was built to support the pilgrimage centre for the relics of the royal Danish martyr Saint Canute (died 1086), and was the successor to the priory of St. Mary and St. Alban, Denmark's earliest monastic house. Located in Odense, it was the island of Funen's most important medieval religious institution. St. Canute's Abbey was founded in connection with the pilgrimage site ...
Founded: 1096 |
Location:
Odense, Denmark
St. Alban's Church
St. Alban's Roman Catholic Church in Odense should not be confused with the medieval church of St. Alban's Priory where King Canute IV was murdered in 1086, and which was later replaced with St. Canute's Cathedral. Odense's first Catholic congregation since the Protestant reformation was established in 1867, and consisted of 12 adults and 7 children. In the first few years services were hold in rented space, but in 1869 t ...
Founded: 1906-1908 |
Location:
Odense, Denmark
Odense Castle
Towards the end of his reign, King Frederik IV of Denmark wished for the same degree of comfort in provincial castles as he enjoyed in Copenhagen. In 1720 a contract was signed for alterations to be made to Odensegård manor. The gardener of Rosenborg Palace, J.C.Krieger, was entrusted with the work. From his studies in England and the Netherlands, he had learnt about the Dutch Baroque style.A new main wing was added to t ...
Founded: 1721 |
Location:
Odense, Denmark
The Funen Village
The Funen Village (Den Fynske Landsby) is an open-air museum located in the neighborhood of Fruens Bøge in Odense. It was founded as a public works project in 1942, during the German occupation of Denmark. The museum"s open-air scene opened to the public already in 1944, and was used for patriotic song festivals (alsangsstævner) during the Occupation. It opened to the public on 1 April 1946. Among the guests att ...
Founded: 1942 |
Location:
Odense, Denmark
Nonnebakken
Nonnebakken (literally, "Nun Hill") is the site of one of Denmark's six former Viking ring castles, built during the reign of Sweyn Forkbeard, who had forced his father Harold Bluetooth to leave the country and seek refuge by the Jomsvikingson Wollin (modern Poland) around 975. The fort enabled its occupier command of the Odense River passing next to the hill. The name refers to the Benedictine Nunnery located on the site ...
Founded: 975 AD |
Location:
Odense, Denmark
Sanderum Church
The oldest parts of Sanderum Church date from the 12th century. The towers were added in the late Middle Ages. There are some frescoes painted around the year 1200. The font is from the late 13th century and altarpiece from 1515. The pulpit was carved in 1631.
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Odense, Denmark
Allerup Church
Allerup church was mentioned first time between 1307 and 1433 and probably built in the first half of 14th century. It was dedicated to St. Jacob. The tower was added in 1495-1505. The altar table is from the 14th century, the clock from 1504 and altarpiece from 1525.
Founded: 14th century |
Location:
Odense, Denmark
Agedrup Church
Agedrup Church was built in the Romanesque style in the 12th century.
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Odense, Denmark
Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings
Photo from Flickr, copyright Neillwphoto
Historic Site of the week
Aberlemno Sculptured Stones
The Aberlemno Sculptured Stones are a series of five Class I and II Early Medieval standing stones found in and around the village of Aberlemno. The stones with Pictish carvings variously date between about AD 500 and 800.
Aberlemno 1, 3 and 5 are located in recesses in the dry stone wall at the side of the road in Aberlemno. Aberlemno 2 is found in the Kirkyard, 300 yards south of the roadside stones. In recent years, bids have been made to move the stones to an indoor location to protect them from weathering, but this has met with local resistance and the stones are currently covered in the winter.
Aberlemno 4, the Flemington Farm Stone was found 30 yards from the church, and is now on display in the McManus Galleries, Dundee.