Kysing Church
Behind Norsminde Inn are the ruins of a village church, which for several hundred years stood where the small harbour town is located today. The ruin now serves as a memorial to King Frederick VII.
A relic from the early history of Nordsminde
Today, there is no church in Norsminde, meaning town residents must travel to Saksild if they wish to attend church. But this was not always the case.
Norsminde is mentioned for the first time in 1292, when King Erik Menved permitted Aarhus Cathedral to collect tolls from the ships docking at the harbour. Even at that time, there was significant traffic in the area, and it is believed that Kysing Church was built around this period. Back then, everything south of Norsminde Harbor was called Kysing, while the land north of the harbour was referred to as Norsminde.
Kysing Church (in modern times often referred to as Meden Church) is mentioned for the first time in 1315. During this period, the crucifix of the church was carried to Aarhus every year on Saint John's Day. The first known mentioning of the church was also in relation to cathedral priests claiming one-thirds of the offerings during this event.
In the 1600s, Kysing Church went through heavy attacks during the Swedish Wars, and in the 1700s, the worn-down church was completely abandoned. However, the church did manage to become a neighbour to Norsminde Inn, which was built in 1658. Like many other Danish inns, it was placed close to the church.
Kysing Church was situated on a hilltop in, what was then, a relatively desolate and open coastal region. The view from there must have been quite remarkable. It was unusual at the time to have churches along the coast, as Denmark was under frequent attacks by pirates during these times.
The Church Ruin
The ruins of Kysing Church are visible and accessible from Gl. Krovej. A staircase will lead you to a memorial with an information board.
For many years, there were challenges with residents grabbing materials from the ruins and using them for other purposes. Therefore, not much remains of the now protected church ruin. The ruin was, however, owing to the innkeeper of the time, saved from total destruction in 1875. To prevent additional stealing of stones, the ruin was transformed into a memorial, commemorating the war of 1864 with a bust of King Frederick VII. The bust still stands atop the ruin today. Every year on June 6th, the flag by the bust is raised in memory of the rescue action.
Visit the Old Inn
…why not have a celebration of your own by visiting the inn for a delicious meal? Today, Norsminde Inn has two restaurants – a popular brasserie and Restaurant Près, which offers you some of the region's finest gourmet cuisine.
On this site, you find inspiration for other experiences in Norsminde.
More Historical Attractions
Kystlandet has many exciting historical attractions to offer. From ancient times to industrial history. From museums to buildings and attractions in nature. On this site, you find inspiration for historically interesting experiences near Horsens, Odder, and Juelsminde.