One of the region's youngest churches
The churches are the oldest well-preserved buildings we have in Denmark. Since the 11th and 12th centuries, most Danish village churches have stood as the only man-made constants in an otherwise markedly changing society. But in Brædstrup, the picture is different. And why is that?
Near the village of Ring, on the outskirts of present-day Brædstrup, a Romanesque church was built around the year 1200. The church was owned by the Catholic Church during the Middle Ages but was confiscated by the king during the Reformation in 1536. In 1720, Anne Mikkelsdatter from the local manor Mattrup took over the church. It was owned by Mattrup Estate until 1903, when it became privately owned. It was under Mattrup's ownership in the 19th century that it was deemed that the church had become too small for the parish's users. Therefore, it was decided to build a new, larger church at the same location, which was consecrated in 1870.
With industrialization, the railway arrived in Bakkelandet, and the town of Brædstrup quickly emerged around the station. It was decided to demolish Ring Church and build a new one on a hilltop in Brædstrup, which would again be larger than its predecessor. This church opened in 1941—only 70 years after the last church was opened.
The area from Søhøjlandet down toward Nørre Snede and Tørring was influenced by Grundtvigian thoughts in the 19th century. A trend at that time was to allow the people to influence the church, and it was not uncommon to demolish churches to build new ones in their own spirit (e.g., Uldum Church). In other words, democratic and liberal ideas about citizen influence and population growth led to the replacement of the church. Further east (Horsens, Odder, Juelsminde), greater efforts were made to preserve and protect the existing churches as sacred and inviolable spaces.
The new church
Brædstrup Church was designed by the renowned Horsens architect Viggo Norn. The relatively large and prominent church is built of red bricks, entirely without whitewashed masonry. However, it remains quite faithful to the ideals of medieval churches and traditionally consists of a choir, nave, tower, and porch. The tall spire on the tower is clearly inspired by the spire of Aarhus Cathedral, which was built a few years earlier.
The 7.5-meter-high and bright church interior is naturally influenced by its design from 1940-41. The eye is quickly drawn to the impressive fresco created by Joh. Vilh. Andersen in 1953.
The church has furnishings that originate from the original church. The Romanesque baptismal font was likely built for the construction of the original church around 1200. The granite font is of the so-called "Horsens type," adorned with carved decorations of lions. The bell dates from 1758. Also, the chalice, paten, wafer box, and an interesting chasuble with monograms for Mattrup's then-owners are from that time.
When you’re in Brædstrup
Brædstrup is a cozy market town located in Bakkelandet, surrounded by exciting nature. Here you can visit interesting specialty shops and delightful eateries, and you are quite close to some of Denmark's most popular nature attractions. You can find inspiration for your trip to Brædstrup on this page.
Other historical experiences
Kystlandet offers many exciting historical attractions, ranging from antiquity to industrial history. From museums to architectural sites and attractions in nature. On this page, you can find inspiration for historically interesting experiences near Horsens, Odder, and Juelsminde.
