Tørring Church, Tørring, Denmark

Tørring church was built in the 13th century. The characteristic octagonal dome of the church tower (beginning of 17th century) is seen above the houses of the 'older part' part of the town north of the river. Richly ornamented pulpit dates from 1625.

User Reviews

maybrit lange (3 months ago)
Danmarks sødeste graver. Asger har virkelig været så sød og hjælpsom vedrørende grav og bisættelse. Så mange tak Asker for hjælpen. Hilsen May

Kent Medom (17 months ago)
Nice church and not least a pastor. There was room for both being solemn, as well as making fun and using humor when it fitted. Lovely fresh breath, for a session that may otherwise feel very long. We were sitting right in front of a pillar, so we had a hard time seeing baptism. On the contrary, they had put a smart TV screen so that we did not miss anything. Really good experience, on a nice day.

Grete Hald (17 months ago)
Beautiful church, really a very solemn and evocative Christmas service, we are already looking forward to next Christmas

Grete Hald (17 months ago)
Beautiful church, really a very solemn and evocative Christmas service, we are already looking forward to next Christmas ?

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Martin M. Miles

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Abbey of Saint-Étienne

The Abbey of Saint-Etienne, also known as Abbaye aux Hommes ('Men"s Abbey'), is a former monastery dedicated to Saint Stephen (Saint Étienne). It is considered, along with the neighbouring Abbaye aux Dames ('Ladies" Abbey'), to be one of the most notable Romanesque buildings in Normandy. Like all the major abbeys in Normandy, it was Benedictine.

Lanfranc, before being an Archbishop of Canterbury, was abbot of Saint-Etienne. Built in Caen stone during the 11th century, the two semi-completed churches stood for many decades in competition. An important feature added to both churches in about 1120 was the ribbed vault, used for the first time in France. The two abbey churches are considered forerunners of the Gothic architecture. The original Romanesque apse was replaced in 1166 by an early Gothic chevet, complete with rosette windows and flying buttresses. Nine towers and spires were added in the 13th century. The interior vaulting shows a similar progression, beginning with early sexpartite vaulting (using circular ribs) in the nave and progressing to quadipartite vaults (using pointed ribs) in the sanctuary.

The two monasteries were finally donated by William the Conqueror and his wife, Matilda of Flanders, as penalty for their marriage against the Pope"s ruling. William was buried here; Matilda was buried in the Abbaye aux Dames. Unfortunately William"s original tombstone of black marble, the same kind as Matilda"s in the Abbaye aux Dames, was destroyed by the Calvinist iconoclasts in the 16th century and his bones scattered.

As a consequence of the Wars of Religion, the high lantern tower in the middle of the church collapsed and was never rebuilt. The Benedictine abbey was suppressed during the French Revolution and the abbey church became a parish church. From 1804 to 1961, the abbey buildings accommodated a prestigious high school, the Lycée Malherbe. During the Normandy Landings in 1944, inhabitants of Caen found refuge in the church; on the rooftop there was a red cross, made with blood on a sheet, to show that it was a hospital (to avoid bombings).

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