The five-towered church in Kalundborg was originally Esbern Snares idea. But it is rather Esberns daughter Ingeborg, who has had the church built - Esbern died in 1204, and at that time the art of burning bricks had only just arrived in Denmark.

Although the church in Kalundborg is grandiose, it is not particularly big, and through the years churchgoers have sat on bench rows in three levels above one another. Those who had to sit on the upper benches, walked up the exterior stairs and climbed in through the windows.

The graves below the middle tower - close to the altar - have been popular among the noblemen through the centuries. Grave after grave was dug in the church’s flooring - closer and closer to the major pillars that held the tower. In 1827 the inevitable happened; the foundation slipped and the middle tower collapsed. Miraculously it dropped in between two of the other towers - and no one got hurt. In 1870 money was raised to rebuild the tower in a nationwide collection.

You can always visit the church during the day, if there are no church services.

However, the church Vor Frue Kirke is not the only interesting church in Kalundborg. In the town you can find the modern church Nyvangskirke, whose architect, Holger Nielsen, has clearly been inspired by his world famous teacher Kaare Klint. The inner church is hexagonal and acoustically efficient, which is why the church frequently hosts popular concerts.

There are also many attractive churches in Kalundborg’s surrounding villages, which are worth visiting. For example in Gørlev Church you can find two runic stones, which are exhibited in the vestibule (see box on the right). By Bjergsted Church at the foot of Bjergsted hills you will find another stone called "Russian stone" - a grave of a residential Russian family who died tragically in 1928 when the father took his own, his wife’s and three children's lives.

In several churches, there are also many beautifully painted murals, which date back to medieval times, including the churches Sæby Kirke, Bregninge Kirke, Sejerø Kirke, Viskinge Kirke, Gørlev Kirke, Tømmerup Kirke and Rørby Kirke.

Most of the churches are open to visitors during daytime hours. At Kalundborg Tourist Office you can purchase a booklet that more explicitly describes all the churches in the Kalundborg area.

Here you can see a list and read more about churches in the area.