Sankt Knuds Kirke

Lonely Planet review

Odense's imposing 14th-century Gothic cathedral Sankt Knuds Kirke reflects the city's medieval wealth and stature. The cathedral's most intriguing attraction lies in the chilly crypt, down an inconspicuous staircase to the right of the altar. You'll find a glass case containing the 900-year-old skeleton of Denmark's patron saint, King Canute (Knud) II, alongside the bones of his younger brother Benedikt.

Both were killed by Jutland peasants during a revolt against taxes; legend holds that Knud was murdered whilst kneeling in prayer. Although less than saintly, in 1101 Knud was canonised Knud the Holy by the pope in a move to secure the Catholic Church in Denmark.

Two items of note in the cathedral's stark interior are a handsome rococo pulpit and an ornate gilded altar, dating from 1521. The altar is the crowning masterpiece of master woodcrafter Claus Berg, whose workshop was in Odense. An intricately detailed triptych, it stands 5m high and contains nearly 300 gilded, pink-cheeked figures.