Sct. Hans Church

Sct. Hans Church is a historic red-brick Gothic church in the centre of Odense, a short walk from Kongens Have and Odense Slot. Originally part of a Knights Hospitaller monastery, it once stood at the northern edge of the medieval town. The church is first mentioned in 1295 under the name Sct. Michael’s Church and later, in 1329, as Sct. Hans Kloster. Today, much of what you see reflects several later modernisations, but the building still suggests its long religious and urban history.

Visit Sct. Hans Church to see a former Knights Hospitaller monastery church with clear Gothic character in the middle of Odense. Although the church has been modernised several times, it preserves interesting features such as an external pulpit on the south side and offers a sense of how the city’s northern boundary looked in the Middle Ages.

Worth a short detour for its Gothic monastery history and unusual outer pulpit in central Odense.

Planning your visit

How long to stay

30–45 minutes.

Best time to visit

Daytime, when you can best appreciate the red-brick exterior, Gothic details and the setting near Kongens Have and Odense Slot. A short visit combines easily with a wider walk around central Odense.

Around here

Nearby on the Margueritruten

• Mural by Emily Gernild

  Attraction · 66 m

• Frederik VII – statue in King’s Garden

  Attraction · 71 m

• Odense Slot (Castle) in King's Park

  Attraction · 125 m

• Danaë - bronze sculpture

  Attraction · 129 m

• Kongens Have (King's Garden) in Odense

  Park · 141 m

• The Trinity

  Attraction · 147 m

Frequently asked

Where is Sct. Hans Church located in Odense?

Sct. Hans Church stands in the central part of Odense, close to Kongens Have and Odense Slot. When it was built, this area lay at the northern edge of the medieval town, but today it sits within the modern city centre and is easy to include on a short walking tour of the surrounding streets.

What is special about Sct. Hans Church’s history?

Sct. Hans Church began as a Knights Hospitaller monastery church and is first mentioned in 1295 under the name Sct. Michael’s Church, with a later reference in 1329 to Sct. Hans Kloster. Over time, it has been altered and modernised several times, so only limited parts of the original medieval structure remain visible today.

What architectural style is Sct. Hans Church, and what does it look like?

The church is built in Gothic style and constructed in red brick, typical of many historic buildings in the region. Although repeated modernisations mean that not all original details survive, you can still see Gothic proportions and an external pulpit on the south side, which hints at how services were once conducted outside the main interior space.

What is the outside pulpit at Sct. Hans Church used for?

On the south side of Sct. Hans Church there is an exterior pulpit. Historically, it was probably used for services directed at people who were not allowed inside the church, such as lepers and outlaws. During the Second World War, the two pastors of the church also used this pulpit for a series of outdoor devotions attended by local residents.

How much of the original Sct. Hans Church is preserved today?

There is relatively little left of the original medieval church, because the building has been modernised three times, most recently in 1997–98. As a result, the current appearance reflects both its long history and later adaptations, with some older elements, such as the Gothic form and outer pulpit, still giving a sense of its earlier character.

How long should I plan to spend at Sct. Hans Church, and what else can I see nearby?

A brief stop is usually enough, as the church can be appreciated from the outside and, if accessible, with a quick look inside. Because it lies close to Kongens Have and Odense Slot, it works well as part of a short walk that also takes in the nearby park, the castle and other points of interest in the same central area.

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