Faaborg
The quintessentially idyllic southern Funen market town
Before the 13th century, and for many years to come, most goods were transported by ship. The roads were too poor. Hence the creation of towns with access to the sea – or at least water, as in the case of Odense. This is why many market towns on Funen have proud maritime traditions. This certainly applies to Faaborg, which was granted royal borough status in the 13th century and quickly became a rich town.
The supreme landmark of the town is its yellow bell tower. The tower belonged to the town’s first stone church, which was dedicated to St. Nicholas. The present parish church, the Holy Spirit Church, was built by a Catholic mendicant order. Today, it is a beautiful, large church with monks’ chairs from the Roman Catholic period. Shortly after the Reformation, the king gave Holy Spirit Church to the municipality in exchange for the Church of St. Nicholas. The king’s plan was to use the inside of the church as a granary for the large grain export out of Faaborg. But the granary never came to anything. So the ship’s nave was demolished in the late 16th century, while the tower was allowed to remain standing. It is from here that the verger of the parish church still rings the bell to herald the start of services and church events.
Enjoy the old market town. It is the warmest town on Funen. Fortunately, you can find many cunning places where you can enjoy an ice cream or a cool drink to avoid overheating.
