Gosmer Church
South of Odder and west of Hou lies a village church, often referred to as the "Cathedral of Hads Herred" due to its impressive size. This Romanesque church boasts fascinating masonry, an intriguing history, and noteworthy interior furnishings.
Hads Herred's cathedral
The charming nickname of Gosmer Church should be taken with a grain of salt. It is not a cathedral, and its size cannot compare to, for example, Aarhus Cathedral. However, it is indeed an unusually large village church that was built in an area with little development at the time.
Gosmer Church is believed to have been constructed by a local nobleman in the late 12th century. It was built from large granite blocks, which was not the norm in the Odder region. It is thought that builders from the construction of Ribe Cathedral and Viborg Cathedral traveled to Gosmer, which may explain the church's size.
During the Middle Ages, Gosmer Church was owned by the Catholic Church until the king confiscated it during the Reformation in 1536, which was the case for nearly all Danish churches. Like other churches, it passed into private ownership in the 17th century and later became almost synonymous with the Rathlou family - the powerful local noble family that has left a significant mark on the Odder area. Margrethe Gersdorff took over Gosmer Church and built the nearby manor, Gersdorffslund, making the church a sort of family church. The church remained part of Rathlousdal Estate until 1925, when it became privately owned.
About the church
Gosmer Church has a distinctive appearance from the outside, where the original Romanesque choir and nave made of granite blocks stand in stark contrast to the later (late medieval) tower and porch, which are whitewashed. You will also quickly notice the beautiful saw-tooth patterns repeated on the roof, tower, and porch, which visually tie the building together. Before entering the church, one should observe the extensive stone art from the 12th century in the masonry. Above the south door, there is a unique Romanesque motif depicting a woman nursing two lions.
The church's oldest furnishings include the Romanesque font, which has likely always been in the church. It features a beautifully carved lion motif—something characteristic of East Jutland, known as the Horsens type. The baptismal bowl dates back to 1550. The Baroque altarpiece and pulpit from the 17th century were crafted by Peder Jensen Kolding from Horsens, whose beautiful works can be found in many churches in the area. The bell dates from the latter half of the 15th century.
In general, Gosmer Church has very interesting older furnishings.
The Rathlou family’s burial chapel
In 1681, Gregorius Rathlou passed away, and his widow, Margrethe Gersdorff, ensured that he was buried in a newly built burial chapel in the church tower, which is quite prominent in the church with an entrance from the nave via a large portal with a memorial plaque. Upon Margrethe Gersdorff's death, it became an actual family burial site, where the owners of Gersdorffslund and Rathlousdal are buried. Among those buried here are Christian Rathlou and his wife.
On the north side of the nave, there is also a burial chapel for former Prime Minister Joachim Otto Schack-Rathlou, his wife, and daughter, where they are interred in marble sarcophagi.
Visiting Gosmer Church
Gosmer Church is open when the groundskeepers are at the cemetery, typically during daytime hours on weekdays. The groundskeepers are often present in the period, but there is no guarantee that it will be open when you arrive.
More historical attractions
The Kystlandet region offers many exciting historical attractions, ranging from ancient history to industrial heritage. From museums to architectural landmarks and natural attractions, you can find inspiration for historically interesting experiences near Horsens, Odder, and Juelsminde on this page.