Ringsted - St Benedict Church

(Local Name: Skt. Bendts Kirke) In the Ringsted market square stands St Benedict's Church (Skt. Bendts Kirke), dating from the 12th century and one of Denmark's oldest brick churches. Later, following a fire, it was given an Early Gothic vaulted roof and a Gothic tower above the crossing. The church contains the tombs of many Danish kings of the 12th and 13th century. A brass plate in the choir marks the resting place of King Eric Menved (d. 1319) and his queen. Frederik VII had the royal tombs opened in 1885; in a chapel can be seen the grave goods found, including a lead tablet from the tomb of Valdemar the Great and silken materials from that of Valdemar the Victorious. On the canopy of the choir stalls are