For me a Danish church is a whitewashed stone church with red tile roof and jagged gables. Less common is a red brick church. When I was in Denmark for a few days, I got the chance to explore three of them.
Two churches on the Danish island of Tåsinge, one on the island of Langeland.
Most Danish villages have their own church dating back to late 1100s, and no matter how small the villages are today, the churches are well maintained and often open to visitors. On the surface every church look the same, but when you enter and begin to explore, every church has something unique to share. Little details that reveal their history and how we and the world has changed.
I recently learned that Tåsinge is a modern form of Thors Enge, Thor's Meadows. Bregninge Church is placed at the highest point of this island and from the top of the tower you have a splendid view of Tåsinge and the South Funen Archipelago. On a clear day like when we visited, you can see church towers and cruise ships as far as 40 km away.
At the foot of the hill with the church lies Tåsinge Museum. Most prominently it tells the story of the 19th century tragic love story of Circus Princess Elvira Madigan and Swedish Lieutenant Sixten Sparre. The couple ran away from family and duty, lived for borrowed money and ended their days under a tree in nearby forest. Double suicide or murder-suicide. But the museum also has a collection of music instruments and prehistoric finds from the local area.
Landet Church is where Elvira Madigan and Sixten Sparre were buried and visitors today leave flowers at a memorial in the cemetery. The entrance is decorated with stone sculptures, one of which is featured on an earlier run of the Danish 50 kr notes. In the altar room next to the stairs to the pulpit hangs a sword. This I have never seen before so I investigated and learned that the sword was found in a tomb in the church and is believed to have belonged to Danish Noble Axel Juel.
Skrøbelev Church on Langeland has early Medieval stone ornaments and Picasso like wall paintings.
