Åsted Church
East of Åsted Church lies an area with deep roots in Denmark’s legal history. This is where the Åsted Birketing was held from 1552 to 1688. About 1 km north of the church, you’ll find the gallows hill – the former execution site of the court – located near the old fortifications of Sallingholm and the village with its historic origins.
Åsted Church is a low-lying granite church with a Romanesque chancel and nave, built of granite ashlar around the year 1200. In the late Middle Ages, the tower and porch were added, constructed from reused ashlar and monk bricks.
In the 16th century, a large chapel for the Krabbe family of Østergård was built on the south side – now serving as a transept. In its masonry are two round-arched lintels, one carved with a cross. A checkerboard stone is visible in the nave’s south wall, and only one original window remains, now bricked up on the north side of the chancel.
The chancel vault is adorned with frescoes from 1563, featuring biblical scenes and reconstructed portraits of Luther and Melanchthon. Coats of arms for Iver Krabbe and Magdalene Banner indicate their patronage, likely in parallel with decorations at Østergård.
The Late Gothic altarpiece, attributed to Claus Berg, is partially preserved. Its central panel now holds a crucifix from 1948, replacing a 19th-century painting by A.F. Jæger. The altar front bears Anne Krabbe’s initials and the year 1590, though it is covered by modern drapery.
The pulpit from 1589 features elaborate woodcarving with biblical reliefs and the coats of arms of Ivar Krabbe and Magdalene Banner. In the porch stand two gravestones: one for Lucas Krabbe (†1543) and Inge Eriksdatter Skram, and another from 1588 showing Ivar Krabbe in armor (†1561) and his wife (†1597). A memorial plaque for Anna Krabbe’s infant son is also present.
The church underwent extensive restoration inside and out between 1998 and 2000.
Åsted Church was built as a “midway church” for the villages of Nissum, Old Åsted, and Risum – on the edge of the ancient Stone Age sea, now Hinnerup Valley. Just east of the church, Åsted birketing (local court) was held from 1552 to 1688. About 1 km north lies the old execution hill near the ruins of Sallingholm and the historic village.