Løgum Abbey

Facts

Peaty abbey

Løgum Abbey was originally a Benedictine monastery in Seem. In 1173, the monastery moved to Løgum, now as a Cistercian monastery. The church is a vaulted, brick-built cruciform church with a very short nave. It was built during the transition between the Romanesque and Gothic styles circa 1225-1325. Excavations have revealed that parts of the church stand on peat foundations - which is unique in Denmark. At the time of the Reformation in 1536, the abbey was one of South Jutland's largest estates, with up to 200 farms, several mills and more besides.

Public place

Selected entry

The dying favoured abbey over heirs

Story written by Peter Pentz

Time / Periode 1200

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When death was nigh, many farmers bequeathed their land to the abbey in the hope of redemption. But the presumptive heirs were rarely accepting of this last will and testament and frequently contested bequests to the abbey. In dire cases, they even tried to use force to reclaim what they saw as their rightful inheritance. This happened in Løgum in 1283. One of the canons of Ribe was appointed to arbitrate in a dispute in which Jon Iversen and Lage Bondesen had forced their way into the abbey with hostile intent. Once inside, they destroyed several buildings. The dispute was over an amount of property in Seem. The arbitrator threatened the witnesses in the case with excommunication if they perjured themselves. Iversen and Bondesen were threatened with the same if they failed to respect the ruling of the court.