Øm Abbey

In 1166 they settled for a short time at the abandoned Veng Abbey, outside Skanderborg, but left in 1167 because of unresolved land disputes with local landowners.

[2][3] The monks finally settled on a patch of land in the parish of Gammel Rye between the lakes Mossø and Gudensø, surrounded by water and marshlands.

One event which caused trouble for Øm Abbey was the suspicion that the monks harbored Abbot Arnfast of Ryd Abbey who was accused of having murdered King Christopher I of Denmark by giving him poisoned communion wine during mass at Ribe Cathedral in 1259.

In 1260 King Christopher's widow Dowager Queen Margaret Sambiria stayed at the abbey for two days with an army of 1,600 knights.

The Cistercians continued to support Jacob Erlandsen, Archbishop of Lund in his struggle with King Eric V of Denmark.

In 1560 the last monk was moved to Sorø Abbey on Zealand, and the land and buildings became crown property under Frederik II.

Just a year later, in 1561, Frederik II ordered the buildings to be demolished, and the stone, timber, and bricks used to extend Skanderborg Castle.

Øm Abbey ruins