Saint Hans Church, Gothic church in central Odense, Denmark.
Saint Hans Church is a Gothic structure built from red brick with large tracery windows and a step-ribbed tower that rises above the city. The chancel features horizontal decorative elements that complement the austere exterior.
The Knights Hospitaller founded this church in 1295 as Saint Michael's Church and renamed it to Saint Hans in 1329. These name changes reflected shifts in the religious function and purpose of the community it served.
The south side features an outdoor pulpit that once served people with leprosy and others excluded from entering the main building. This design reveals how the church addressed spiritual needs even for those kept apart from the community.
The church sits in central Odense and offers wheelchair access through marked entrances at Sankt Hans Square. Visitors should check opening hours in advance and wear sturdy shoes, as interior floors can be uneven in places.
Medieval nobility tombstones line the interior walls, and the altar displays Carl Bloch's 1879 painting titled 'Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane'. This artwork by a renowned Danish painter provides a moment of artistic reflection during a visit.
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