Svaneke Church

The pink church above Svaneke

High above Svaneke's rooftops stands the town's distinctive pink church. You will find Svaneke Church in the southeastern part of town, around 18 meters above sea level, where it has been part of the townscape for centuries.

The church's appearance has changed several times, but traces of its long history are still visible. In the church's south wall, you can see a remnant of the original church, which was a low, square building. The church's foundations date from the 16th century, while the shingle-covered spire was added in 1789.

Over the years, the church has had two entrance porches, among other additions. They were demolished in 1837 when the current main entrance was created. Before then, however, the northern porch served a rather different purpose: for a time in the 18th century, its attic was used as a gunpowder magazine.

The pink color that now makes the church easy to recognize among Svaneke's other buildings was introduced during a later restoration and is based on a color that was fashionable in the second half of the 19th century.

Stop by Svaneke Church as you explore the town, and discover the small traces of its history. The church is open year-round from 8:00 AM until sunset.