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Founded: 1494-1520Category: Religious sites in Denmark
Historical period: Kalmar Union (Denmark)
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St. Morten's church is the only of the five Middle Age churches in Randers that remain today. It was built around 1494-1520 as a replacement for the earlier Middle Age church by the same name. It is dedicated to St. Martin of Tours. The church was handed over to Helligåndsbrødrenes Kloster (the Monastery of the Brothers of the Holy Spirit) whose abbot Jens Mathiasen was builder of the existing church. It made up a wing of Helligåndklostret (the Monestary of the Holy Spirit) of which the neighbouring Helligåndshus (House of the Holy Spirit) is also a remnant.
The church is built of medieval large bricks in late Gothic style. Ever since 1534, the church has been a parish church. However, the tower with its characteristic onion steeple was not built until 1795-97. Around the church was the cemetary which was abolished in 1812 and ever since, it has been a market place.
The façade is a beautiful Baroque work from 1751. In 2004 Per Kirkeby's modern alter tableau illustrating Good Friday in Gethsemane Garden was unveiled.
References:The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.
In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians.