Church of Our Saviour (Vor Frelsers Kirke), Horsens

Medieval brick, Baroque grace and a renewed interior meet at Horsens’ historic town-square church, the oldest building within the city and its spiritual centre.

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Church of Our Saviour

Rising over the main square of Horsens, the Church of Our Saviour is the city’s historic heart and one of Denmark’s most atmospheric town churches. Dating back to around 1225, this Lutheran parish church blends Romanesque roots with later Baroque touches and a thoroughly renewed interior after a devastating arson attack in 2018. Step inside between services to find elegant memorials, gravestones and a light-filled space that tells the story of Horsens’ development from medieval market town to modern city.

A brief summary to Church of Our Saviour

Torvet 9, Horsens, 8700, DK
+4575621393
Visit website
Duration: 0.5 to 1.5 hours
Free
Indoor
Mobile reception: 4 out of 5

Monday 9 am-1 pm
Tuesday 9 am-1 pm
Wednesday 9 am-1 pm
Thursday 9 am-1 pm
Friday 9 am-1 pm

Local tips

Visit in the late morning on a weekday, when the church office is open and the square is lively, but check that no service, wedding or funeral is in progress before entering.
Once inside, walk slowly along the walls and aisles to notice the memorial tablets and gravestones, which tell stories of Horsens’ influential merchants and officials.
Pair your visit with a coffee or lunch at one of the nearby cafés on Torvet to enjoy views of the tower and see how the church shapes everyday life in the square.
If your dates coincide with a concert, especially around the Horsens Medieval Festival or major church holidays, arrive early to secure a good seat and soak up the acoustics.

Getting There

Train and short walk from Aarhus

From Aarhus, take a regional train to Horsens Station; departures run at least twice per hour during the day and the journey takes around 30–35 minutes. Standard adult single fares are typically in the range of 70–110 DKK depending on time and ticket type. From Horsens Station it is an easy, mostly level 10–15 minute walk through the city centre to Torvet, where the church stands. Pavements are generally smooth and suitable for wheelchairs and strollers, though cobblestones near the square can be slightly uneven.
Intercity train from Copenhagen

From Copenhagen’s main station, direct intercity trains run to Horsens several times per day, with a travel time of about 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes. Advance purchase tickets typically range from about 200–400 DKK one way, depending on flexibility and time of day. On arrival at Horsens Station, follow the main streets towards the centre; the walk to the church on Torvet takes roughly 10–15 minutes on mostly flat terrain. This option is comfortable year‑round and avoids the need for a car.
Car from Vejle and other Jutland towns

If you are driving from Vejle or other towns in eastern Jutland, allow around 30–40 minutes from Vejle to Horsens via the main motorway under normal traffic. There is no parking directly on the square in front of the church, but several public car parks and street‑parking zones lie within about a 5–10 minute walk of Torvet. Expect typical Danish city‑centre parking fees in the region of 10–25 DKK per hour during the day, with time limits and enforcement varying by zone. Surfaces between parking areas and the church are a mix of asphalt and cobblestones.
Local bus from Horsens suburbs

City buses in Horsens connect residential areas and nearby villages with the centre. Most lines stop within a few minutes’ walk of Torvet, and journey times from outlying districts are usually 10–25 minutes depending on distance and traffic. A single city bus ticket commonly costs around 20–30 DKK for adults and can be bought on board or via local ticket apps, with discounts for children. Buses generally run more frequently on weekdays than evenings or Sundays, so check timetables if travelling late in the day.

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Discover more about Church of Our Saviour

A medieval church at the heart of Horsens

The Church of Our Saviour stands on Torvet, the main square of Horsens, and has shaped the city’s skyline for centuries. Believed to date from around 1225, it is considered the oldest building within the original town, raised when Horsens was emerging as an important royal and trading centre. Its position on the square underlines its role as both spiritual home and urban anchor: for generations, life in Horsens has unfolded in its shadow, from markets and proclamations outside to baptisms and funerals within. Originally built in brick at a time when this was an expensive and prestigious material, the church signalled royal ambition. Earlier churches nearby had been constructed in stone or wood, so using brick here aligned Horsens with major royal projects elsewhere in Denmark and marked the town out as a place of consequence.

From royal foundation to hospitaler stronghold

The church’s origins are closely tied to the Danish crown. It was founded under King Valdemar the Victorious, who used ecclesiastical building to consolidate royal power. In 1351 ownership passed from the king to the Knights Hospitaller, the same order that ran the nearby monastery and monastery church just a short walk away. For nearly two centuries, the church formed part of a religious complex that combined worship, charity and landholding. The Reformation in the 16th century reshaped Horsens and its institutions. As Lutheranism became the state religion, the Catholic monks were expelled from town in the 1530s, and the Church of Our Saviour gradually took on its present role as a Lutheran parish church. Yet the layered history of royal, monastic and civic ownership still lingers in its walls and memorials.

Architecture shaped by changing eras

Although its core is medieval, the church has been reworked many times, and today it is often described as one of Denmark’s most beautiful Baroque town churches. The basic structure stems from its early Romanesque and Gothic phases, but subsequent rebuilding and heightening, especially of the tower, brought in later styles. The red-brick exterior, tall tower with clock, and copper-clad details give the building a dignified profile against the square. Inside, the church once held a renowned 17th‑century pulpit, considered among the finest Renaissance woodcarvings in Denmark. Over the centuries, new furnishings, galleries and monuments were added as Horsens’ merchant and official classes sought to leave their mark. Elegant epitaphs and gravestones for prominent citizens still line the walls and floor, reminders that burial inside the church was once a privilege reserved for the town’s elite.

Fire, loss and careful renewal

In 2018, the Church of Our Saviour suffered an arson attack that destroyed irreplaceable art, including the historic pulpit. The blaze was a cultural shock for Horsens, robbing the city of some of its finest woodcarving and sacred art. In the aftermath, the entire interior underwent a major renovation, completed in 2020. The restoration balanced respect for the building’s long story with the need to create a coherent, functioning space for contemporary worship. Today the interior feels fresh yet rooted in tradition, with a clear, bright layout that highlights surviving historic details and newer liturgical furnishings. The renewed space lends itself not only to services but also to concerts and special events, where music resonates beneath the high vaults and across centuries of history.

Quiet reflection amid a busy square

During daytime opening hours, when no services, weddings or funerals are taking place, visitors are welcome to step inside. Crossing the threshold from the lively square, you enter a calmer world of filtered light, stone, and wood. Benches offer space to sit and take in the atmosphere, while plaques and memorial stones invite closer inspection. The church’s long connection to Horsens’ wealthiest families is still written in names and coats of arms at your feet and on the walls. Outside, the church remains a natural landmark for orienting yourself in the compact city centre and a focal point during festivals and civic events. Whether you slip in briefly between errands or linger during a concert, the Church of Our Saviour offers a powerful sense of continuity—an unbroken line linking medieval craftsmen, hospitaler monks, Lutheran pastors and today’s residents and travellers.

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Unmissable attractions to see

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Rådhusparken

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Industrimuseet

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Horsens Art Museum

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Horsens Museum

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Vitus Beringsparken

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Bygholm Park

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Nightclubs & after hour spots

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Church of Our Saviour (Vor Frelsers Kirke), Horsens

A brief summary to Church of Our Saviour

Local tips

For the on-the-go comforts that matter to you

Getting There

Train and short walk from Aarhus

Intercity train from Copenhagen

Car from Vejle and other Jutland towns

Local bus from Horsens suburbs

Church of Our Saviour location weather suitability

Unlock the Best of Church of Our Saviour

Buy tickets

Book tours with entry

Book tours without entry

Discover more about Church of Our Saviour

A medieval church at the heart of Horsens

From royal foundation to hospitaler stronghold

Architecture shaped by changing eras

Fire, loss and careful renewal

Quiet reflection amid a busy square

Iconic landmarks you can’t miss

Bilka Horsens

Horsens Tourist Information Centre

Jættestuen grønhøj

Årtusindeskifte Eg

Genforeningssten på Ejer Bavnehøj

Ejer Bavnehøj

Ejerbavnehøj MØDESTED

Det gamle vandtårn

The Midgård Well

VisitVejle

Vejle Vindmølle

Vejle Kunstforening

Saksild Beach

H.C. Andersen bench

Bestig Himmelbjerget

Unmissable attractions to see

Horsens Holder

Mindesmærke over faldne frihedskæmpere

Rådhusparken

Industrimuseet

Horsens Art Museum

Horsens Museum

Wanna Be Mermaid

Lunden

Vitus Beringsparken

Horsens Banegård Park

Horsens Garden

Lilian's tree

Planetstien

Bygholm Park

Horsens Marina

Essential places to dine

Restaurant Munken

Corfitz restaurant - bar

Restaurante Venezia

Restaurant Eydes

Bone's Horsens

Cafe Vivaldi

Kamii Horsens

Restaurant Mamma's

rundtenom

Great sushi

GRAN Social

Restaurant Oksen

Ji-Mi's

Det Ny Kronborg

Hien's Vietnamesisk Køkken

Markets, malls and hidden boutiques

The & Idé ApS

Bog & idé Horsens

Kjærs Magasiner

JACK & JONES

Hviid

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