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December 21, 2012

Thursday’s Child: Aarhus Cathedral, Denmark

Aarhus Cathedral, in Aarhus, Denmark, is notable for a few reasons.  It is the largest church in Denmark and has both a stunning altar and a set of golden gates that separate the choir from the nave.  But its most striking features are the frescoes on its walls.  Only a few remain, but they indicate what this cathedral must have looked like in its prime.

We knew nothing about Aarhus before we disembarked at this port on our Baltic cruise last summer. The girls had begged to go to a beach somewhere on the cruise.  Most of the destinations gave us no time for a beach – even two days in St. Petersburg were barely adequate – but Aarhus was the one destination that had no must-sees, and thus it became our beach day.

But after a beautiful morning at the beach we still had a few hours left, and I remembered reading about the glorious cathedral that towered over the rest of the town.

Construction on the cathedral began in the late twelfth century, and was completed around 1350.  Later, it was redesigned in the Gothic style, and between the years of 1470 and 1520, the walls were covered in frescoes.  Many of these lovely frescoes were lost during the Reformation movement but a few remain.  Those that survived cover over 2000 square feet on the interior walls of the cathedral. The largest, shown at the top of this paragraph, depicts St. Christopher and St. Clement, the latter of whom was a pope in the early church and patron saint of sailors, and to whom the cathedral is dedicated. 

One of the beauties of travel is discovering the unexpected.  We’ve been fortunate enough to see some of the world’s great cathedrals, and they truly are spectacular.  But once in a while, it’s a joy to stumble upon a place that you never knew existed.  Built to glorify God, Aarhus Cathedral, with its vaulted ceilings and colourful frescoes, was a true pleasure to visit.

Filed Under: Denmark

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lizzy Do says

    December 21, 2012 at 2:16 am

    Oh, how fortunate that some of these frescoes remain! Such treasures. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas, Beth!!! xo

    Reply
  2. Valerie says

    December 21, 2012 at 2:38 am

    What a majestic cathedral! I think I could spend hours gazing at the intricate frescoes.

    Reply
  3. Velva says

    December 21, 2012 at 2:41 am

    European churches always amaze me. The history and the construction never fall short of stunning.

    Cheers.
    Velva

    Reply
  4. Belinda says

    December 21, 2012 at 10:49 am

    What a neat and unexpected stop-not the usual tourist stomp!

    Reply
  5. Natalie Aguirre says

    December 21, 2012 at 11:50 am

    I'm amazed at all the places you've traveled to. So true that finding the unexpected on a trip can be so enjoyable. Hope I do too on my trip to China.

    Reply
  6. Rita Huneault says

    December 21, 2012 at 12:25 pm

    When we travel, I always search out the churches; you learn so much about the evolution on these towns/cities. This is one grand cathedral; I can just imagine.
    Rita

    Reply
  7. Barbara says

    December 21, 2012 at 1:08 pm

    I'm always charmed when I come upon a lovely old church in my travels. I loved reading about the history of this one, Beth.

    Reply
  8. yummychunklet says

    December 21, 2012 at 7:08 pm

    What a lovely old church.

    Reply
  9. Medeia Sharif says

    December 21, 2012 at 10:09 pm

    What a lovely cathedral. I haven't seen anything quite like it. I hope to see it in person one day.

    Reply
  10. bakewithjill.com says

    December 22, 2012 at 1:22 am

    The frescoes are gorgeous. What a neat find!

    Reply
  11. Chocolate Shavings says

    December 22, 2012 at 2:14 am

    Beautiful photos!

    Reply
  12. Food Gal says

    December 22, 2012 at 2:16 am

    Amazing how that's stood the test of time, isn't it? Simply gorgeous!

    Reply
  13. Elaine says

    December 22, 2012 at 4:23 pm

    How lovely! I really enjoy your Thursday travel posts, Beth.

    Reply
  14. Julie says

    December 22, 2012 at 10:49 pm

    Your travel posts always take me there!

    Reply
  15. Stina Lindenblatt says

    December 23, 2012 at 12:52 am

    I've always wanted to go to Denmark, but for some reason I forgot about the historical sites. I was thinking of Legoland. lol

    Reply
  16. Angie's Recipes says

    December 23, 2012 at 5:24 am

    Wonderful photos, Beth. Thanks for sharing and I wish you and yours a happy and blessed holiday season!

    Reply
  17. Claudia says

    December 23, 2012 at 4:49 pm

    I am imagining what those frescoes must have looked like "back in the day." The world is just filled with unexpected treasures and such a delight to stumble on one. Happy Holidays, Beth to you and yours. May your days be merry and bright.

    Reply
  18. Kitchen Riffs says

    December 24, 2012 at 1:09 am

    I've not been there, and it definitely looks as if I need to! There are so many things to see! But I'll put this on my list for the next time I'm in that part of the world. Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  19. Joanne says

    December 24, 2012 at 2:56 pm

    You guys definitely stumbled upon a gem!

    Reply
  20. artofnaturalliving.com says

    December 26, 2012 at 1:53 pm

    I had family from Aarhus–must visit someday… Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  21. Kathy says

    January 1, 2013 at 12:23 am

    Such a gorgeous cathedral…and a lovely post!

    Reply
  22. Needful Things says

    January 1, 2013 at 8:25 am

    I made a fleeting visit to Aarhus almost a decade ago. Since it was for work, I never got to see much and left far too quickly. Enjoyed this post because it brought back memories of beautiful Denmark. Still hope to make it back there one day!
    Happy 2013!

    Reply

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Welcome to Of Muses and Meringues. Thanks for stopping by! I am Beth! Writer, traveller, baker, mother.
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