The dissolution and subsequent fate of Medieval monasteries in Denmark and northern Germany There... more The dissolution and subsequent fate of Medieval monasteries in Denmark and northern Germany There are certain differences in the building histories of monasteries in Denmark and northern Germany due to economic and political developments in the two areas during the Middle Ages. The monasteries in Denmark were founded over a very long period, although none were established in the 14th century and many in the 15th century. In northern Germany, due to the late conversion, establishment took place over a shorter period, with extensive building activity in the 13th and 14th centuries. The major building boom seen in Denmark up to the Reformation is not evident in the north of Germany. In the case of the Cistercian abbeys in Denmark, it is characteristic that very few of their churches ever acquired the planned length, and their cloisters were rarely completed until a late date. This contrasts sharply with the situation in northern Germany. The nunneries in both areas lack systematic inv...
Wooden cloisters at Danish monasteriesVarious studies have shown that most of the cloisters known... more Wooden cloisters at Danish monasteriesVarious studies have shown that most of the cloisters known at Danish monasteries were constructed in the Late Middle Ages. There are several reasons for this. One is that these brick-built cloisters replaced earlier structures of wooden or half-timbered construction. None of the latter cloister types have survived in Denmark, so they have either to be discovered by archaeological excavation or through indications evident on standing monastery buildings.Archaeological excavations have demonstrated the existence of wooden cloisters associated with the monasteries at Ring, Øm, Dalum and Sæby. Postholes were found in the first three instances, while at Sæby there was burnt daub from half-timbering. The latter monastery was founded quite late in the Middle Ages, at a time that saw extensive construction of brick-built cloisters, so perhaps the remains found here derive from a temporary construction phase.At monasteries such as Tvilum, Horsens Franci...
The dating of the building phases in the cathedral of Børglum have until now been wrongly interpr... more The dating of the building phases in the cathedral of Børglum have until now been wrongly interpreted and dated. The eastern part of with the transept, prepyterium, apse and transept have because of false understanding of a letter been dated to the period after 1200 and thereforeseenas an old-fashioned building. The building of the cathedral was probably started in the 1170'ies.
Klosterbuch Schleswig-Holstein und Hamburg, Band 1, Oliver Auge · Katja Hillebrand (Hg.), 2019
Vom Kloster erhalten sind die Kirche und der an das südliche Querschiff anschließende nördliche B... more Vom Kloster erhalten sind die Kirche und der an das südliche Querschiff anschließende nördliche Bereich des Ostflügels. Nach der Reformation wurde das Kloster in ein herzogliches Schloss umgewandelt, von dem der Hauptflügel erhalten ist und direkt an den südwestlichen Eckbereich des Kirchenbaus stößt.
Die Kirche besteht aus einem platt schließenden Chorjoch mit seitlichen Kapellenanbauten, einem Querschiff mit vier Ostkapellen, einer Kapelle in der nordwestlichen Ecke zwischen Querschiff und nördlichem Seitenschiff sowie einem kurzen basilikalen Schiff, welches im gebundenen System mit zwei Gewölbejochen im Mittelschiff erbaut ist.
Erhalten hat sich der unmittelbar an das Kirchenschiff an- schließende nördliche Teil des Ostflügels. Er besteht aus sieben von ursprünglich zwölf Gewölbejochen. Geprägt ist die jetzige Gestalt von der Restaurierung der 1920er Jahre. In deren Zuge wurde der durch verschiedenartige Nutzung, u. a. als Stall, stark in Mitleidenschaft gezogene Gebäudebereich in seine mittelalterliche Gestalt zu- rückgeführt, wobei Fenster, Türen und Gewölbe teils wieder rekonstruiert wurden.
Mittelalterliche Zisterzienserinnenklöster im südwestlichen Ostseeraum, Felix Biermann, Katrin Frey und Gudrun Gleba (Hrsg.), 2020
Zur Zeit der Reformation existierten insgesamt 116 Klöster in Dänemark. Davon waren 20 % reine No... more Zur Zeit der Reformation existierten insgesamt 116 Klöster in Dänemark. Davon waren 20 % reine Nonnenklöster. Im Verhältnis zu anderen Nachbarländern ist dieser Prozentanteil sehr niedrig; die Gründe dafür sind unklar. Setzt man schriftliche und architektonische Quellen in ein entsprechen- des Verhältnis, entfallen gleichfalls nur 20 % der Text- und Sachzeugen auf Nonnenklöster. Die Möglichkeiten für länder- übergreifende und vergleichende Studien sind aufgrund der geringen Anzahl von Klöstern mit vergleichbaren Bedingungen beschränkt. Viele Klöster sind verschwunden, und so ist es problematisch, generalisierende Aussagen über Frauenklöster in Dänemark zu treffen. Deshalb konzentriert sich dieser Beitrag auf eine Präsentation der Anlagen und die Gestalt der einzel- nen Klöster.
Backsteinbaukunst. Zur Denkmalkultur gebrannter Erde. Band VI, 2017
Es gab bereits eine bedeutende Architektur in Dänemark, bevor das Bauen mit dem Baustoff Backstei... more Es gab bereits eine bedeutende Architektur in Dänemark, bevor das Bauen mit dem Baustoff Backstein begann. Deshalb gibt es nicht viele romanische Kirchen die im Ganzen von Backstein gebauten sind. Die meisten sind über das Land weit verstreut. Doch finden wir einige Regionen mit Gruppen von Backsteinkirchen. Eine kleine recht homogene Gruppe liegt im Vendsyssel und ist von dem Dom zu Børglum beeinflusst. Ein an- dere größere Gruppe gibt es in ehemaligen Her- zogtum Schleswig auf beiden Seiten der heutigen Dänisch-Deutschen Grenze. Drittens ist eine Region mit Lolland und Falster in dem Insel-Bis- tum Odense zu nennen, wozu auch Fühnen und Fehmarn gehört. Besonders auf Lolland und Fals- ter finden wir eine große Menge von kleinen ländlichen Pfarrkirchen aus Backstein. Hinzu kommen mehrere Einzelmonumenten weit ver- streut der sogenannten Seeländischen Backsteinarchitektur. Die verschiedenen Architekturregio- nen haben ihrer eigenen Gepräge und sind daher abzugrenzen von Kirchen auf Seeland, von denen ihre Formensprache nicht abhängt.
There are certain differences in the build- ing histories of monasteries in Denmark and northern ... more There are certain differences in the build- ing histories of monasteries in Denmark and northern Germany due to economic and political developments in the two areas during the Middle Ages. The mon- asteries in Denmark were founded over a very long period, although none were established in the 14th century and many in the 15th century. In northern Ger- many, due to the late conversion, estab- lishment took place over a shorter period, with extensive building activity in the 13th and 14th centuries. The major build- ing boom seen in Denmark up to the Reformation is not evident in the north of Germany. It is quite clear from the examples of monastery dissolution that their fate at the Reformation was, to a major degree, dependent primarily on the faith of the ruler – i.e. a city council, a duke or a king – and secondly on the power this ruler had to carry out their wishes. Accord- ingly, we see a different pattern in relation to the Reformation in the various princi- palities and towns of northern Germany.
Archäologie Mittelalter – Neuzeit – ZukunftFestschrift für Ingolf Ericsson, 2017
Abstract
At the beginning of the 19th century, the Oldnordisk Museum/Nationalmuseet started colle... more Abstract At the beginning of the 19th century, the Oldnordisk Museum/Nationalmuseet started collecting individual architectural elements and documented buildings that were cleared for demolition. Back then, the main foci of attention were the monasteries, primarily because of their importance for Danish history, with monastery churches being examined in particular. It was not until the establishment of the second department at the Nationalmuseum in the year 1892 that medieval archaeology, and thereby research into monasteries, improved. In the years 1912–1941, the art historian Vilhelm Lorenzen carried out brilliant pioneering work with his series „De danske Klostres Bygningshistorie”. After the Second World War, there was vast municipal building activity resulting in the destruction of monasteries with hardly any documentation. If there were excavations at all, they proceeded in accordance with the principle: follow the wall. It was not until the appointment of Olaf Olsen as professor of medieval archaeology at Aarhus University in the 1970s that new excavation techniques were applied. Since then monasteries have been intensively researched and the results published. In 2013 the publication „Klostre i det middelalderlige Danmark” was released.
The diocese of Vendelbo was first mentioned by Adam of Bremen, a medieval chronicler, who around ... more The diocese of Vendelbo was first mentioned by Adam of Bremen, a medieval chronicler, who around 1075 recorded the history of the Hamburg Church in Gesta Ham- maburgensis Ecclesiae Pontifi- cum. Adam of Bremen mentions the division of the diocese of Ribe around the year 1060 and the for- mation of the diocese of Wendila in the part of Jutland north of the Limfjord in the areas of Vendsys- sel, Thy and Mors. The bishopric was probably placed in Børglum to begin with.
Our knowledge on the history of the building derives partly from a great excavation in 1862 and part- ly from examining the building it- self. The main work on the com- plex is made by Vilh. Lorenzen in De danske Præmonstratenserklo- stres Bygningshistorie written in 1925. In connection with this work a series of precise measurements were made by Charles Christens- en. The work on Børglum was in many ways important and the re- sults have through the years been repeated. However we know to- day that especially the construc- tion phases of the Cathedral have been misinterpreted and wrongly dated.
Børglum cathedral is difficult to date on its own. But if it is com- pared to the small group of other brickstone churches in the area, where one, Bindslev church, has been dendrochronologically dated to the year of 1190, we can prob- ably date the beginning of the con- struction to around 1170. The Ro- manesque part of the church was surely under construction during a rather long period, and the nave was not finished during this ar- chitectural phase.
The dissolution and subsequent fate of Medieval monasteries in Denmark and northern Germany There... more The dissolution and subsequent fate of Medieval monasteries in Denmark and northern Germany There are certain differences in the building histories of monasteries in Denmark and northern Germany due to economic and political developments in the two areas during the Middle Ages. The monasteries in Denmark were founded over a very long period, although none were established in the 14th century and many in the 15th century. In northern Germany, due to the late conversion, establishment took place over a shorter period, with extensive building activity in the 13th and 14th centuries. The major building boom seen in Denmark up to the Reformation is not evident in the north of Germany. In the case of the Cistercian abbeys in Denmark, it is characteristic that very few of their churches ever acquired the planned length, and their cloisters were rarely completed until a late date. This contrasts sharply with the situation in northern Germany. The nunneries in both areas lack systematic inv...
Wooden cloisters at Danish monasteriesVarious studies have shown that most of the cloisters known... more Wooden cloisters at Danish monasteriesVarious studies have shown that most of the cloisters known at Danish monasteries were constructed in the Late Middle Ages. There are several reasons for this. One is that these brick-built cloisters replaced earlier structures of wooden or half-timbered construction. None of the latter cloister types have survived in Denmark, so they have either to be discovered by archaeological excavation or through indications evident on standing monastery buildings.Archaeological excavations have demonstrated the existence of wooden cloisters associated with the monasteries at Ring, Øm, Dalum and Sæby. Postholes were found in the first three instances, while at Sæby there was burnt daub from half-timbering. The latter monastery was founded quite late in the Middle Ages, at a time that saw extensive construction of brick-built cloisters, so perhaps the remains found here derive from a temporary construction phase.At monasteries such as Tvilum, Horsens Franci...
The dating of the building phases in the cathedral of Børglum have until now been wrongly interpr... more The dating of the building phases in the cathedral of Børglum have until now been wrongly interpreted and dated. The eastern part of with the transept, prepyterium, apse and transept have because of false understanding of a letter been dated to the period after 1200 and thereforeseenas an old-fashioned building. The building of the cathedral was probably started in the 1170'ies.
Klosterbuch Schleswig-Holstein und Hamburg, Band 1, Oliver Auge · Katja Hillebrand (Hg.), 2019
Vom Kloster erhalten sind die Kirche und der an das südliche Querschiff anschließende nördliche B... more Vom Kloster erhalten sind die Kirche und der an das südliche Querschiff anschließende nördliche Bereich des Ostflügels. Nach der Reformation wurde das Kloster in ein herzogliches Schloss umgewandelt, von dem der Hauptflügel erhalten ist und direkt an den südwestlichen Eckbereich des Kirchenbaus stößt.
Die Kirche besteht aus einem platt schließenden Chorjoch mit seitlichen Kapellenanbauten, einem Querschiff mit vier Ostkapellen, einer Kapelle in der nordwestlichen Ecke zwischen Querschiff und nördlichem Seitenschiff sowie einem kurzen basilikalen Schiff, welches im gebundenen System mit zwei Gewölbejochen im Mittelschiff erbaut ist.
Erhalten hat sich der unmittelbar an das Kirchenschiff an- schließende nördliche Teil des Ostflügels. Er besteht aus sieben von ursprünglich zwölf Gewölbejochen. Geprägt ist die jetzige Gestalt von der Restaurierung der 1920er Jahre. In deren Zuge wurde der durch verschiedenartige Nutzung, u. a. als Stall, stark in Mitleidenschaft gezogene Gebäudebereich in seine mittelalterliche Gestalt zu- rückgeführt, wobei Fenster, Türen und Gewölbe teils wieder rekonstruiert wurden.
Mittelalterliche Zisterzienserinnenklöster im südwestlichen Ostseeraum, Felix Biermann, Katrin Frey und Gudrun Gleba (Hrsg.), 2020
Zur Zeit der Reformation existierten insgesamt 116 Klöster in Dänemark. Davon waren 20 % reine No... more Zur Zeit der Reformation existierten insgesamt 116 Klöster in Dänemark. Davon waren 20 % reine Nonnenklöster. Im Verhältnis zu anderen Nachbarländern ist dieser Prozentanteil sehr niedrig; die Gründe dafür sind unklar. Setzt man schriftliche und architektonische Quellen in ein entsprechen- des Verhältnis, entfallen gleichfalls nur 20 % der Text- und Sachzeugen auf Nonnenklöster. Die Möglichkeiten für länder- übergreifende und vergleichende Studien sind aufgrund der geringen Anzahl von Klöstern mit vergleichbaren Bedingungen beschränkt. Viele Klöster sind verschwunden, und so ist es problematisch, generalisierende Aussagen über Frauenklöster in Dänemark zu treffen. Deshalb konzentriert sich dieser Beitrag auf eine Präsentation der Anlagen und die Gestalt der einzel- nen Klöster.
Backsteinbaukunst. Zur Denkmalkultur gebrannter Erde. Band VI, 2017
Es gab bereits eine bedeutende Architektur in Dänemark, bevor das Bauen mit dem Baustoff Backstei... more Es gab bereits eine bedeutende Architektur in Dänemark, bevor das Bauen mit dem Baustoff Backstein begann. Deshalb gibt es nicht viele romanische Kirchen die im Ganzen von Backstein gebauten sind. Die meisten sind über das Land weit verstreut. Doch finden wir einige Regionen mit Gruppen von Backsteinkirchen. Eine kleine recht homogene Gruppe liegt im Vendsyssel und ist von dem Dom zu Børglum beeinflusst. Ein an- dere größere Gruppe gibt es in ehemaligen Her- zogtum Schleswig auf beiden Seiten der heutigen Dänisch-Deutschen Grenze. Drittens ist eine Region mit Lolland und Falster in dem Insel-Bis- tum Odense zu nennen, wozu auch Fühnen und Fehmarn gehört. Besonders auf Lolland und Fals- ter finden wir eine große Menge von kleinen ländlichen Pfarrkirchen aus Backstein. Hinzu kommen mehrere Einzelmonumenten weit ver- streut der sogenannten Seeländischen Backsteinarchitektur. Die verschiedenen Architekturregio- nen haben ihrer eigenen Gepräge und sind daher abzugrenzen von Kirchen auf Seeland, von denen ihre Formensprache nicht abhängt.
There are certain differences in the build- ing histories of monasteries in Denmark and northern ... more There are certain differences in the build- ing histories of monasteries in Denmark and northern Germany due to economic and political developments in the two areas during the Middle Ages. The mon- asteries in Denmark were founded over a very long period, although none were established in the 14th century and many in the 15th century. In northern Ger- many, due to the late conversion, estab- lishment took place over a shorter period, with extensive building activity in the 13th and 14th centuries. The major build- ing boom seen in Denmark up to the Reformation is not evident in the north of Germany. It is quite clear from the examples of monastery dissolution that their fate at the Reformation was, to a major degree, dependent primarily on the faith of the ruler – i.e. a city council, a duke or a king – and secondly on the power this ruler had to carry out their wishes. Accord- ingly, we see a different pattern in relation to the Reformation in the various princi- palities and towns of northern Germany.
Archäologie Mittelalter – Neuzeit – ZukunftFestschrift für Ingolf Ericsson, 2017
Abstract
At the beginning of the 19th century, the Oldnordisk Museum/Nationalmuseet started colle... more Abstract At the beginning of the 19th century, the Oldnordisk Museum/Nationalmuseet started collecting individual architectural elements and documented buildings that were cleared for demolition. Back then, the main foci of attention were the monasteries, primarily because of their importance for Danish history, with monastery churches being examined in particular. It was not until the establishment of the second department at the Nationalmuseum in the year 1892 that medieval archaeology, and thereby research into monasteries, improved. In the years 1912–1941, the art historian Vilhelm Lorenzen carried out brilliant pioneering work with his series „De danske Klostres Bygningshistorie”. After the Second World War, there was vast municipal building activity resulting in the destruction of monasteries with hardly any documentation. If there were excavations at all, they proceeded in accordance with the principle: follow the wall. It was not until the appointment of Olaf Olsen as professor of medieval archaeology at Aarhus University in the 1970s that new excavation techniques were applied. Since then monasteries have been intensively researched and the results published. In 2013 the publication „Klostre i det middelalderlige Danmark” was released.
The diocese of Vendelbo was first mentioned by Adam of Bremen, a medieval chronicler, who around ... more The diocese of Vendelbo was first mentioned by Adam of Bremen, a medieval chronicler, who around 1075 recorded the history of the Hamburg Church in Gesta Ham- maburgensis Ecclesiae Pontifi- cum. Adam of Bremen mentions the division of the diocese of Ribe around the year 1060 and the for- mation of the diocese of Wendila in the part of Jutland north of the Limfjord in the areas of Vendsys- sel, Thy and Mors. The bishopric was probably placed in Børglum to begin with.
Our knowledge on the history of the building derives partly from a great excavation in 1862 and part- ly from examining the building it- self. The main work on the com- plex is made by Vilh. Lorenzen in De danske Præmonstratenserklo- stres Bygningshistorie written in 1925. In connection with this work a series of precise measurements were made by Charles Christens- en. The work on Børglum was in many ways important and the re- sults have through the years been repeated. However we know to- day that especially the construc- tion phases of the Cathedral have been misinterpreted and wrongly dated.
Børglum cathedral is difficult to date on its own. But if it is com- pared to the small group of other brickstone churches in the area, where one, Bindslev church, has been dendrochronologically dated to the year of 1190, we can prob- ably date the beginning of the con- struction to around 1170. The Ro- manesque part of the church was surely under construction during a rather long period, and the nave was not finished during this ar- chitectural phase.
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Die Kirche besteht aus einem platt schließenden Chorjoch mit seitlichen Kapellenanbauten, einem Querschiff mit vier Ostkapellen, einer Kapelle in der nordwestlichen Ecke zwischen Querschiff und nördlichem Seitenschiff sowie einem kurzen basilikalen Schiff, welches im gebundenen System mit zwei Gewölbejochen im Mittelschiff erbaut ist.
Erhalten hat sich der unmittelbar an das Kirchenschiff an- schließende nördliche Teil des Ostflügels. Er besteht aus sieben von ursprünglich zwölf Gewölbejochen. Geprägt ist die jetzige Gestalt von der Restaurierung der 1920er Jahre. In deren Zuge wurde der durch verschiedenartige Nutzung, u. a. als Stall, stark in Mitleidenschaft gezogene Gebäudebereich in seine mittelalterliche Gestalt zu- rückgeführt, wobei Fenster, Türen und Gewölbe teils wieder rekonstruiert wurden.
Viele Klöster sind verschwunden, und so ist es problematisch, generalisierende Aussagen über Frauenklöster in Dänemark zu treffen. Deshalb konzentriert sich dieser Beitrag auf eine Präsentation der Anlagen und die Gestalt der einzel- nen Klöster.
a very long period, although none were established in the 14th century and many in the 15th century. In northern Ger- many, due to the late conversion, estab- lishment took place over a shorter period, with extensive building activity in the 13th and 14th centuries. The major build- ing boom seen in Denmark up to the Reformation is not evident in the north of Germany.
It is quite clear from the examples of monastery dissolution that their fate at the Reformation was, to a major degree, dependent primarily on the faith of the ruler – i.e. a city council, a duke or a king – and secondly on the power this ruler had to carry out their wishes. Accord- ingly, we see a different pattern in relation to the Reformation in the various princi- palities and towns of northern Germany.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the Oldnordisk Museum/Nationalmuseet started collecting individual architectural elements and documented buildings that were cleared for demolition. Back then, the main foci of attention were the monasteries, primarily because of their importance for Danish history, with monastery churches being examined in particular. It was not until the establishment of the second department at the Nationalmuseum in the year 1892 that medieval archaeology, and thereby research into monasteries, improved. In the years 1912–1941, the art historian Vilhelm Lorenzen carried out brilliant pioneering work with his series „De danske Klostres Bygningshistorie”. After the Second World War, there was vast municipal building activity resulting in the destruction of monasteries with hardly any documentation. If there were excavations at all, they proceeded in accordance with the principle: follow the wall. It was not until the appointment of Olaf Olsen as professor of medieval archaeology at Aarhus University in the 1970s that new excavation techniques were applied. Since then monasteries have been intensively researched and the results published. In 2013 the publication „Klostre i det middelalderlige Danmark” was released.
The bishopric was probably placed in Børglum to begin with.
Our knowledge on the history of the building derives partly from a great excavation in 1862 and part- ly from examining the building it- self. The main work on the com- plex is made by Vilh. Lorenzen in De danske Præmonstratenserklo- stres Bygningshistorie written in 1925. In connection with this work a series of precise measurements were made by Charles Christens- en. The work on Børglum was in many ways important and the re- sults have through the years been repeated. However we know to- day that especially the construc- tion phases of the Cathedral have been misinterpreted and wrongly dated.
Børglum cathedral is difficult to date on its own. But if it is com- pared to the small group of other brickstone churches in the area, where one, Bindslev church, has been dendrochronologically dated to the year of 1190, we can prob- ably date the beginning of the con- struction to around 1170. The Ro- manesque part of the church was surely under construction during a rather long period, and the nave was not finished during this ar- chitectural phase.
Die Kirche besteht aus einem platt schließenden Chorjoch mit seitlichen Kapellenanbauten, einem Querschiff mit vier Ostkapellen, einer Kapelle in der nordwestlichen Ecke zwischen Querschiff und nördlichem Seitenschiff sowie einem kurzen basilikalen Schiff, welches im gebundenen System mit zwei Gewölbejochen im Mittelschiff erbaut ist.
Erhalten hat sich der unmittelbar an das Kirchenschiff an- schließende nördliche Teil des Ostflügels. Er besteht aus sieben von ursprünglich zwölf Gewölbejochen. Geprägt ist die jetzige Gestalt von der Restaurierung der 1920er Jahre. In deren Zuge wurde der durch verschiedenartige Nutzung, u. a. als Stall, stark in Mitleidenschaft gezogene Gebäudebereich in seine mittelalterliche Gestalt zu- rückgeführt, wobei Fenster, Türen und Gewölbe teils wieder rekonstruiert wurden.
Viele Klöster sind verschwunden, und so ist es problematisch, generalisierende Aussagen über Frauenklöster in Dänemark zu treffen. Deshalb konzentriert sich dieser Beitrag auf eine Präsentation der Anlagen und die Gestalt der einzel- nen Klöster.
a very long period, although none were established in the 14th century and many in the 15th century. In northern Ger- many, due to the late conversion, estab- lishment took place over a shorter period, with extensive building activity in the 13th and 14th centuries. The major build- ing boom seen in Denmark up to the Reformation is not evident in the north of Germany.
It is quite clear from the examples of monastery dissolution that their fate at the Reformation was, to a major degree, dependent primarily on the faith of the ruler – i.e. a city council, a duke or a king – and secondly on the power this ruler had to carry out their wishes. Accord- ingly, we see a different pattern in relation to the Reformation in the various princi- palities and towns of northern Germany.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the Oldnordisk Museum/Nationalmuseet started collecting individual architectural elements and documented buildings that were cleared for demolition. Back then, the main foci of attention were the monasteries, primarily because of their importance for Danish history, with monastery churches being examined in particular. It was not until the establishment of the second department at the Nationalmuseum in the year 1892 that medieval archaeology, and thereby research into monasteries, improved. In the years 1912–1941, the art historian Vilhelm Lorenzen carried out brilliant pioneering work with his series „De danske Klostres Bygningshistorie”. After the Second World War, there was vast municipal building activity resulting in the destruction of monasteries with hardly any documentation. If there were excavations at all, they proceeded in accordance with the principle: follow the wall. It was not until the appointment of Olaf Olsen as professor of medieval archaeology at Aarhus University in the 1970s that new excavation techniques were applied. Since then monasteries have been intensively researched and the results published. In 2013 the publication „Klostre i det middelalderlige Danmark” was released.
The bishopric was probably placed in Børglum to begin with.
Our knowledge on the history of the building derives partly from a great excavation in 1862 and part- ly from examining the building it- self. The main work on the com- plex is made by Vilh. Lorenzen in De danske Præmonstratenserklo- stres Bygningshistorie written in 1925. In connection with this work a series of precise measurements were made by Charles Christens- en. The work on Børglum was in many ways important and the re- sults have through the years been repeated. However we know to- day that especially the construc- tion phases of the Cathedral have been misinterpreted and wrongly dated.
Børglum cathedral is difficult to date on its own. But if it is com- pared to the small group of other brickstone churches in the area, where one, Bindslev church, has been dendrochronologically dated to the year of 1190, we can prob- ably date the beginning of the con- struction to around 1170. The Ro- manesque part of the church was surely under construction during a rather long period, and the nave was not finished during this ar- chitectural phase.