Soro Abbey Church and Soro Lake

Romanesque Brick Abbey Church Where Bishop Absalon, Founder Of Copenhagen, Is Buried, Set In The Park Of Soro Academy On A Forest Lake · Soro, Region Zealand

Soro Abbey Church is a large Romanesque brick church in the small town of Soro in central Zealand, roughly an hour west of Copenhagen by train. It was the church of a Cistercian abbey founded in the 1160s under Bishop Absalon, the warrior-bishop who founded Copenhagen, and his family, the Hvide clan, and it is one of the oldest and largest brick churches in Denmark. Absalon is buried behind the high altar, and kings of the medieval Valdemar line, including Valdemar IV Atterdag and Christopher II, lie here too; the writer Ludvig Holberg is said to rest here as well. Inside are a tall medieval crucifix, wall paintings and royal tombs. After the Reformation the abbey became Soro Academy, today a working boarding school whose park runs down to Soro Lake, a forest lake with lakeside paths. People come for history, a quiet church and a lake walk. The honest caveat: this is a small town, the church is the main sight, and it is a half-day detour rather than a full-day destination.

Soro Klosterkirke and Soro Academy, by Soro Lake, central Zealand, Soro, Region Zealand, Denmark

The church is usually open to visitors by day, roughly late morning to mid afternoon, with longer hours in summer and shorter hours in winter, and it closes to sightseers during Sunday services, weddings, funerals and concerts - confirm current opening times, which change, before you travel. The Academy park and lakeside paths are open to walkers at all reasonable hours. By train, Soro is on the main Copenhagen-Odense line, roughly 50-60 minutes from Copenhagen Central; the station lies about 2 km south of the town across the lake, so take a local bus or walk roughly 25-30 minutes. No booking is needed; group tours should be arranged in advance.

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