Medieval churches in 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
Stubbekøbing Church
Stubbekøbing Church was built of limestone in the Late Romanesque period (c. 1200), with brick trimmings. In addition to its Renaissance altarpiece and pulpit, it has a variety of old frescos and wall decorations (1300–1500). The church was originally dedicated to St. Anne, for whom there is also a chapel, possibly created by the lords of Halskovgaard in the parish of Horbelev as they were remembered in the prayers off ...
Founded: c. 1200 |
Location:
Stubbekøbing, Denmark
Højby Church
Højby Church dates back to the beginning of the 12th century and it is constructed in granite. Several modifications have taken place since the original construction including a porch in the 13th century, Gothic cross-vaulting in the nave and chancel in the 14th century, a tower around the year 1400 as well as a vestry, a chapel and a new entrance porch towards the end of the Middle Ages. The church is recognised for it ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Højby, Denmark
Harte Church
Harte Church was built in the 12th century in Romanesque style. The entrance and tower dates from 15-16th centuries. The old altarpiece was given by Abildgaard, the lord of Vranderupgaard. In the cemetery you will find a soldiers grave from the battle at Kolding (1849). In this battle, Harte church served as headquarter and observation post for the army led by general Rye.
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Kolding, Denmark
Ketting Church
Ketting Church was built in the 12th century. The original tower is one of the best-preserved towers built also for defensive purpose in Denmark. The rest of the church was rebuilt in 1773, due to bad maintenance of the original church. In the tower there is two bells: one has been cast around 1350. The other, with a weight of 1.000 kilo is from 1554. From 1851 to 1854 Ketting church was closed because it was used as gun ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Augustenborg, Denmark
Ølsted Church
The middle nave, choir and apse of Ølsted church date from the 11th century. The Gothic tower was added in the 16th century and was altered in the mid-19th century. The altarpiece dates from the 18th century.
Founded: 11th century |
Location:
Hedensted, Denmark
Engum Church
Engum Church is believed to be built on the site where Irish monks settled around 950 AD. The church was built around 1100 and the tower and porch were added later in the Middle Ages. The altarpiece dates from 1759 and the interior mainly dates from the 18th century.
Founded: c. 1100 |
Location:
Vejle, Denmark
Felsted Church
Felsted Church was originally built in the 13th century and the rare wooden bell-tower is dated 1769. The altarpiece is Gothic triptych from 1430. The pulpit dates from 1808.
Founded: c. 1250 |
Location:
Aabenraa, Denmark
Egeskov Church
The Egeskov Church chancel and nave are Romanesque, whilst the west tower and the porch on the south side date from the late Gothic period. Externally the chancel is highly ornate, the east wall including an attractive gable recess. After the Swedish wars 1657-60 the church was in ruins. The crucifix, which now hangs on the north wall of the nave, was the only thing to be spared. The altar piece, the pulpit and the font c ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Fredericia, Denmark
St. Peter's Church
St. Peter's Church (Sankt Peders Kirke) is a well-preserved sample of Romanesque building style. The oldest parts nave and apsis were built around the year 1100. The church has been enlarged and modified in the 17th and 19th centuries. The bells were made in 1574 and 1701. The font is original and made in Gotland. The interior date mainly from the 19th century.
Founded: ca. 1100 |
Location:
Aakirkeby, Denmark
Jyllinge Old Church
The old church of Jyllinge was built around 1100 and it belonged to Eskilsø Abbey. There is a war memorial and paving stones in the church yard.
Founded: c. 1100 |
Location:
Jyllinge, Denmark
Birket Church
Built around 1350, Birket church is rather younger than many country churches in the area which are typically from the 12th and 13th centuries. Until 1687, it had its own parish priest but it was then annexed to Vesterborg until 1914. After the Reformation it came under the ownership of the Crown but in 1686 was transferred to Pedr Brandt til Pederstrup. The church became independent in 1914. The church, built of brick o ...
Founded: 1350 |
Location:
Torrig, Denmark
Klakring Church
Klakring Church was built in the 13th century in Romanesque style. The tower and porch were added during the large restoration in 1860s. The pulpit dates from 1625.
Founded: 13th century |
Location:
Hedensted, Denmark
Byrum Church
Byrum Church is the largest in Læsø island. It was built in 1269 by monks of Vitskøl monastery. The Romanesque architecture was later transformed to the Gothic style. The interesting detail is a triptych made around 1450.
Founded: 1269 |
Location:
Læsø, Denmark
Halsted Church
Halsted Church dates from the second half of the 12th century, the church has a Romanesque chancel and nave, a large burial chapel from 1636 and a tower from 1877. The church was closely associated with Halsted Priory, which has not survived. The granite church is first mentioned in 1177. It is therefore older than Halsted Kloster, the Benedictine priory with which it was associated from the 13th century until 1536. The ...
Founded: ca. 1100 |
Location:
Nakskov, Denmark
Kappel Church
Kappel Church was constructed as a chapel around 1464. It was as a pilgrimage site believed to have healing properties. After the Reformation there were orders to pull down the building, possibly owing to Catholic connections. This never occured and it became a parish church. The pulpit was introduced in the 17th century. The altarpiece is an 1860 painting by Jørgen Roed.
Founded: c. 1464 |
Location:
Nakskov, Denmark
Engestofte Church
Engestofte Church was built around the year 1100. The whitewashed Gothic church was restored in 1856-57. Pews, organ case and pulpit in modern Gothic style are painted to look like oak, and the pulpit, decorated by Willie the carver - Copenhagen, furthermore with gilt. The altarpiece is a late Gothic cabinet with double side panels, certainly a work from Lübeck from about 1510. It is considered to be among the most b ...
Founded: c. 1100 |
Location:
Maribo, Denmark