Medieval churches in Denmark
Sulsted Church
Sulsted Church, located in Sulsted, a small Danish town in northern Jutland, just north of Aalborg, was constructed c. 1150-1200 and features a large number of frescos or kalkmalerier, all created in 1548 by Hans Maler from Randers. Unlike other frescos in Danish churches, Sulsted's murals were not concealed with limewash after the Reformation and have survived to this day. The frescos, which decorate the ceiling of the n ...
Founded: 1150-1200 |
Location:
Sulsted, Denmark
Gunderup Church
The choir and nave of Gunderup Church were built in the 1100s, but the church was rebuilt and enlarged in 1445. The chapel was added around 1500. The altarpiece is a triptych from 1537-1538. The pulpit dates from 1800s. The Gothic frescoes from around 1500 were revealed in 1930s.
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Gistrup, Denmark
Barrit Church
The church in Barrit origins probably from 1152-1160. It was originally white. The church went through several re-buildings but the present look is from a main restoration in 1879, where the old church was re-walled with red bricks from a demolished tilework in Breth.
Founded: 1152-1160 |
Location:
Hedensted, Denmark
Nexø Church
The actual building time of Nexø Church is unknown, but the construction was probably started around the year 1346. It represents the late Gothic style and is dedicated to St. Nicholas, the saint of seafarers. The church tower was added in the 16th century and the spire in 1910. The pulpit and gilded cruficix date from the 17th century.
Founded: ca. 1346 |
Location:
Nexø, Denmark
Gjellerup Church
Gjellerup Church, built in the 12th century, is unique for its Latin inscription in the tympanon above former door facing to the south. The inscription, carved in 1140, makes Gjellerup Church the oldest dated building in Denmark. The church is consecrated to the Roman martyr St. Laurentius. There are traces of a Romanesque tower, and the sheer size of the church is remarkable. The oldest parts are the chancel and nave. Th ...
Founded: c. 1140 |
Location:
Herning, Denmark
Gedesby Church
Gedesby church is built with a longhouse in the Gothic style with with pointed arch windows and a Gothic tower base, of brick in monk bond. Originally the church was crown land, that is royal property until 1767, when it along with the main church in Skelby was sold along with the rest of Falster equestrian goods. The altarpiece of the Dutch wing type from 1573 is pretty and well preserved with a figure rich crucifixion ...
Founded: c. 1350 |
Location:
Gedser, Denmark
Odden Church
Odden church dates from the 14th century and it was painted red in 1874. The crucifix in the belfry room is as old as the church. On the other side is a painting 'Christ in prayer in the garden of Getsemane' painted in Rome by a Ziegler a donated to the church in 1878. The pulpit is from 1821. The font contains of two parts. It is believed, that the one below is from the old chapel and was the holy water stoup. ...
Founded: 14th century |
Location:
Sjællands Odde, Denmark
Braaby Church
The precise date of the Braaby Church"s construction is not known but it was first documented around 1370 when it consisted of the current Romanesque nave and a smaller chancel, both built of limestone blocks. In about 1500, the tower, porch and north chapel were added with decorations consisting of belts of brick and limestone. The present chancel was constructed in c. 1570. After Steward of the Realm Peder Oxe had ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Haslev, Denmark
Notmark Church
Notmark Church was built around 1200. The tower is probably built also for defensive purposes. The altarpiece dates from the 1520s as well as the Renaissance style pulpit and crucifix.
Founded: c. 1200 |
Location:
Augustenborg, Denmark
St. James' Church
St. James" Church or Skt. Ibs Kirke is a travertine church from around 1100. In 1808 it was transformed into a field hospital for Spanish soldiers. In 1816 the church and the graveyard were sold to a local merchant and used as warehouse until 1884. The porch, tower and chancel were demolished, however, the church was restored in 1922. Today, only the aisle is left. The famous Danish painter L.A. Ring is burried in th ...
Founded: c. 1100 |
Location:
Roskilde, Denmark
Præstø Church
The current Præstø Church was built in the mid-1400s to the site of earlier church. There was also a monastery from the end of 1200s to Reformation (1530s). Abbey buildings were demolished in 1563. The finest detail in the church is an altar donated by Laurits Nielsen in 1657.
Founded: c. 1450 |
Location:
Præstø, Denmark
Kalvehave Church
Kalvehave Church was built around 1225-1250 of large bricks near to a holy spring. The church is rebuilt and extended several times. The altarpiece was made in Renaissance style in the end of the 16th century. The Baroque pulpit dates from 1639.
Founded: 1225 |
Location:
Kalvehave, Denmark
Egen Church
Egen Church dates from the 12th century and free-standing bell tower from the late Middle Ages. At the cemetery of Egen Church, near Guderup, the memorial stones of the fallen in World War I (1914-18) is found at the clock tower. Here 66 memorial stones in marble is placed in memory of the fallen sons of Egen parish.
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Guderup, Denmark
Daugård Church
The large white-washed church in Daugård has a Romanesque choir and nave with late Gothic additions: a tower to the west and a porch to the south. The choir arch seems expanded in the late Gothic period and like the eastern part of the choir rebuilt in monk bricks. Upon the north wall of the choir were in 1956 found fragmentaric Romanesque frescoes from c. 1200. The altarpiece is a typical work by Jens Hiernøe from c. ...
Founded: c. 1200 |
Location:
Daugård, Denmark
Hejls Church
Hejls church was built in the Romanesque style in 12th century. The tower was added in the 15th century and all other buildings from 1780 to 1950.
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Kolding, Denmark
Graeshave Church
Græshave Church was constructed in the Middle Ages of the large bricks known as 'monk stone'. It contains a chapel that was owned by the local noble family Porses. This was converted into a sacristy in 1637. The altarpiece is of the cathechetical variety associated with the post Reformation period.
Founded: 13th century |
Location:
Dannemare, Denmark
Venø Church
Venø Church"s age is difficult to date but it was probably built around the time of the Reformation (1536), making it the oldest building on the island. According to tradition, it is the smallest church in Denmark measuring only 9.8 by 4.2 meters. The low ceiling and the limited seating capacity (only about 50 places) reinforce this impression. The church is built of fieldstone while brick has been used for th ...
Founded: c. 1536 |
Location:
Struer, Denmark
Skive Old Church
Vor Frue Kirke (Church of Our Lady) is the old church of Skive, built around 1200. It still have its original nave and choir. The church was enlarged around 1500. In the 1800s it became too small and new church was built next to it in 1898. The old church became however again a parish church in 1930. The murals in church walls date from 1522.
Founded: 1200 |
Location:
Skive, Denmark
Lysabild Church
Lysabild Church was built around 1100 is one of the oldest in the region. The frescoes and baptismal font made of Gotland limestone are notable. The altarpiece is from the 1780s, chancel arch crucifix from 1450s. There are historic war monuments of 1864-1920 in the churchyard.
Founded: c. 1100 |
Location:
Sønderborg, Denmark
Hasle Church
Hasle Church was built around 1460 and it was restored in 1758. The porch was added in in 1882. The late Gothic altarpiece was made in 1510s and the pulpit around 1600. There is also a Viking age runestone in the churchyard.
Founded: ca. 1460 |
Location:
Hasle, Denmark