In the middle of Danish history

When I stand on Albani Square, I think about the fact that I am standing in the middle of Danish history. One of the country’s earliest churches stood here, and traces of the almost 1,000-year-old building can still be found just a few metres beneath the paving stones.

You can see the traces marked by iron circles showing where the church’s wooden posts once stood. This was also where the Danish king Canute was killed by rebellious noblemen.

Later, Canute the Holy was commemorated every year on 10 July with markets and processions through the streets of the city. Can you picture it?

Kirstine Haase, Head of Research

Odense’s first cathedral

St Alban’s Church was built as a wooden church around the year 1000 and was an important part of early Christian Odense. Archaeological finds show that it was already serving as a cathedral in the 11th century, with a large burial ground surrounding it.

On 10 July 1086, Canute the Holy sought refuge in the church during a rebellion against his rule. According to historical sources, he was killed in front of the altar. A few years later, he was canonised, and his grave helped make Odense an important pilgrimage destination. Nearby, St Canute’s Church – today’s Odense Cathedral – later took shape.

The traces are still beneath the square

The wooden church has long since disappeared, but its location can still be traced in Albani Square. Circular markings in the paving show where the church’s posts once stood, while a cross marks the place where Canute the Holy is traditionally believed to have been killed.

A square marking also shows the location of an 11th-century bishop’s grave discovered by archaeologists during excavations in 2015.

Here, stories of faith, royal power and the city that was beginning to take shape come together. Beneath the paving stones lie traces of the transition from the Viking Age to the Middle Ages – and of the people who lived here more than 1,000 years ago.

The drama lies just beneath your feet

The site of the original St Alban’s Church is only one of the traces of Viking Odense. Follow the Viking route to discover kings, churches, burial sites and hidden remains around the city.

See the Viking route and discover more places where the history of the Viking Age can still be experienced in modern Odense.