Sct. Bendt's Church
The beautiful St. Bendt's Church, which was Denmark's first royal church, contains both noble and royal graves.
The church was originally a rubble-stone church built in 1080, but the current brick church was consecrated at the Great Church Festival in June 1170, when Knud Lavard was canonized.
St. Bendt's Church was Denmark's first royal church. In the Middle Ages, it served as the monastery church for the Benedictine monks of Ringsted Abbey. The original rubble-stone church was built in 1080 (rubble-stone is a type of rock formed by the deposition of calcareous water in streams). The current brick church was consecrated at the Great Church Festival on June 25, 1170, when Knud Lavard was canonized. The church served as the burial site for the Valdemar kings from 1182 to 1341. Zealand's Landsting was associated with the site.
The Dagmark Cross – a relic cross in gold and enamel – is a Byzantine work from around the year 1000. It was found in the church, where a copy can be seen today. The frescoes in the cross vault date back to around 1300, and those in the chancel are from around 1268. St. Bendt's Church, located at Sct. Bendtsgade 9, is open during the winter period from September 1 to April 30, from 10 AM to 1 PM. In the summer period, from May 1 to August 31, the church is open from 10 AM to 4 PM. These hours apply throughout the week, but the church may be closed during services, religious ceremonies, and similar events. Groups should always contact the church and arrange a visit.