Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Street art in Cartagena.
Colombia • 10 days, 9 nights
Colombia Discovery: Coffee, Art & Music
from
Caucasus - Geghard Monastery, Armenia
Armenia • 15 days, 14 nights
Caucasus Road Trip: Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The wall commemorating 11,908 Jewish victims of the Shoah from Frankfurt.
Börneplatz Memorial
Entrance to the munitions area of the lower part of the bunker
Simserhof
Carlos Calderón Yruegas calls the villa his personal playground.
Villa Tabaiba
Apples and pears, Spitalfields Market.
Brick Lane Roundels
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
USDA and Washington State agriculture officials tagged this Asian giant hornet. Sept. 10, 2021.
What Ever Happened to the Murder Hornets?
about 3 hours ago
The exterior of the Hall of Records.
Atlas Obscura Mailbag: Urban Exploration, Illegal Carvings, and Repeat Vacations
2 days ago
Biosphere 2 campus (2016)
Biosphere 2: How Volunteers Survived for 2 Years in an Airtight Habitat
3 days ago
Places like Forest Grove linger on the edge of wilderness and civilization.
Listening for Echoes of the Forest Grove Sound
3 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Denmark Defiled Baptismal Font
AO Edited

Defiled Baptismal Font

This historical font became infamous after a maid was allegedly tricked into urinating in it, leading to her tragic death sentence.

Køge, Denmark

Added By
Johan SWE
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  Johan SWE / Atlas Obscura User
  Johan SWE / Atlas Obscura User
  Johan SWE / Atlas Obscura User
  Johan SWE / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Born in the late 1500s in Silkeborg, central Denmark, Kirsten Lauridsdatter began her life on a farm before relocating to Køge, south of Copenhagen, to work as a maid for Johanne Thomes, the wife of a merchant. This move had dire consequences for Lauridsdatter, culminating in her involvement in the notorious Køge Huskors witch trials.

Lauridsdatter's fate was sealed when she was sentenced in 1612 to be burned at the stake for admitting to urinating in the baptismal font at Saint Nicolai Church in Køge. She confessed after being coerced by her employer and another woman, who were convicted of sorcery. They allegedly promised the maid 10 feet (3 meters) of woolen cloth and convinced her that the blasphemous ritual would cure her debilitating hip injury.

The Romanesque baptismal font, dated circa 1250 and made of sandstone, was originally a revered church artifact. However, it was considered defiled by Lauridsdatter’s act and subsequently discarded. Buried and later unearthed during road construction in the 1800s, the font was repurposed as a flowerpot. In 1937, it found its way to Køge Museum, where it resides to this day.

Fast forward to 2023, when photographer and designer Jim Lyngvild, renowned for his kitsch style, curated a witch exhibit at Køge Museum centered around the historical baptismal font pivotal to Lauridsdatter’s story. Lyngvild sparked controversy by posting a Facebook inquiry seeking a female volunteer to recreate the urination scene, igniting lively discussions and drawing considerable attention. Eventually, a suitable participant was found.

Related Tags

Artifacts Women's History Religion Witches

Know Before You Go

The baptismal font is permanently displayed at Køge Museum, which is located in the pedestrian zone in the city center just a 10-minute walk from the train station. For current opening hours and admission fees, please check the museum's website.

Community Contributors

Added By

Johan SWE

Published

July 19, 2024

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0g34jWaH1NaroWpbJpaNWU6w9G6vhCkWbiNimxMKkEMvZitLnRYHV2NNnEuJw89npl&id=100044622750368
  • https://www.tv2kosmopol.dk/koege/her-udspillede-danmarks-drabeligste-heksejagt-sig-nu-efterlyses-kvinde-fra-nutiden
  • https://politiken.dk/ibyen/art8337201/Hun-blev-dr%C3%A6bt-for-at-have-tisset-i-en-d%C3%B8befont.-Men-hvordan-skulle-Kirsten-n%C3%A5-helt-derop-med-sine-d%C3%A5rlige-ben
Defiled Baptismal Font
4 Nørregade
Køge, 4600
Denmark
55.456914, 12.18306
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Køge Huskors Memorial

Køge, Denmark

miles away

Heksens Hårbånd (The Witch’s Headband)

Lille Skensved, Denmark

miles away

'The Little Match Girl'

Greve, Denmark

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Denmark

Denmark

Europe

Places 158
Stories 19

Nearby Places

Køge Huskors Memorial

Køge, Denmark

miles away

Heksens Hårbånd (The Witch’s Headband)

Lille Skensved, Denmark

miles away

'The Little Match Girl'

Greve, Denmark

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Denmark

Denmark

Europe

Places 158
Stories 19

Related Places

  • Jacksonville, Florida

    Grave of Laura Adorkor Kofi

    The final resting place of "Mother Kofi," a Black minister who was assassinated in the middle of a sermon.

  • Prestonpans, Scotland

    'Athena' Memorial Statue

    A monument honoring 81 residents of this Scottish town who were executed for witchcraft in the 16th century.

  • Velha Goa, India

    Museum of Christian Art

    Located within a 17th-century convent, this museum features centuries-old Christian art pieces that meld European and Asian influences.

  • Suffragette Umbrella Stand

    Glasgow, Scotland

    Suffragette Umbrella Stand

    A discarded umbrella stand from a women's prison is an object of pride at a library that is dedicated to women's culture and achievements.

  • Shree Ganesh Darshan Museum

    Pune, India

    Shree Ganesh Darshan Museum

    Located within a temple complex, this museum has a fantastic collection of around 500 idols of Lord Ganesh.

  • Witch’s Stick in Finchingfield Guildhall

    Finchingfield, England

    Howe Street Witches Burial

    Inside the Finchingfield Guildhall, two sticks that belonged to alleged witches in the 17th century.

  • Mansfield Traquair Centre

    Edinburgh, Scotland

    Mansfield Traquair Centre

    Edinburgh’s version of the Sistine Chapel is this former church, with an interior covered in paintings done by one woman over the course of nearly a decade.

  • Salem Witch Trials Memorial

    Salem, Massachusetts

    Salem Witch Trials Memorial

    A simple but powerful tribute to the 20 victims of the 1692 witch trials.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.