St. Walfriduskerk, Romanesque church in Bedum, Netherlands
St. Walfriduskerk is a Romanesque church in Bedum featuring a stone tower from the 11th century and a two-aisled hall structure that later received Gothic elements. The interior holds multiple historic gravestones and shows evidence of different building periods.
The church began around 1050 as a pilgrimage site honoring Saint Walfridus and his son Radfridus, who were killed by Vikings. The building has shaped religious life in the region for over nine centuries.
The building changed from a Catholic pilgrimage center to a Protestant house of worship after 1594, which led to major architectural changes. Visitors can still see the marks of this transformation in the structure today.
The church remains open for religious services and visitors should be aware of the leaning structure that defines the building. Plan enough time to explore the interior and view the gravestones.
The church tower leans at about 4.18 degrees from vertical, exceeding the lean of the Tower of Pisa. This striking feature makes the building an unusual architectural phenomenon in the Netherlands.
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