Karise

{{Infobox settlement | name = Karise | native_name = | other_name = | settlement_type = Town  | image_skyline = Karise Church.jpg | image_caption = Karise Church in Karise | image_flag = | image_shield = | motto = | nickname = | etymology =  | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = [[Denmark]] | subdivision_type1 = | subdivision_name1 = | subdivision_type2 = Region | subdivision_name2 = [[Region Zealand|Zealand (''Sjælland'')]] | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = Municipality | subdivision_name4 = [[Faxe Municipality|Faxe]]  | image_map = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Denmark#Denmark Region Zealand | pushpin_relief = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Denmark | coordinates = {{coord|55|18|25|N|12|11|52|E|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes =  | established_title = | established_date =  | area_footnotes = | area_urban_km2 = 1.3 | area_total_sq_mi = | area_land_sq_mi = | area_water_sq_mi =  | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | elevation_ft =  | population_as_of = 2025 | population_footnotes = | population_urban = 2443 | population_density_urban_km2 = auto | population_density_sq_mi= | population_demonym =  | timezone1 = [[Central European Time|CET]] | utc_offset1 = +1 | timezone1_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]] | utc_offset1_DST = +2  | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = DK-4653 Karise | area_code_type = | area_code = | geocode = | iso_code =  | website = | footnotes = }}

'''Karise''' is the main town of Karise Parish in [[Faxe Municipality]], [[Region Sjælland]] ("Zealand Region") in the southeast of [[Denmark]]. Karise town has a population of 2,443 (1 January 2025)<ref>[https://m.statbank.dk/TableInfo/BY3?lang=en BY3: population 1st January by urban areas, area and population density] The Mobile Statbank from [[Statistics Denmark]]</ref> (Karise Parish: 2,906 (2025))<ref>[https://m.statbank.dk/TableInfo/KM1?lang=en Population 1. January, 1. April, 1. July and 1. October by parish and time] The Mobile Statbank from [[Statistics Denmark]]</ref>

Karise is mentioned in 1261, when Peder Olufsen, a local [[Lord]], in his will donated 12 marks to the consecration of Karise Church.

Until the municipal reform of 1972, Karise was part of its own Karise Municipality.

==Karise Church== The church is built as a fortified church which served as a place of refuge during [[Wends|wendish]] incursions in the 13th century. At that time the stream on the east side of the church was a navigable fjord, rendering the surrounding villages an easy target for the wendish pirates. The architecture of the church displays both [[Romanesque architecture|romanesque]] and [[Gothic architecture|gothic]] style features. The windows in the [[apse]] are romanesque round arches while the windows in the [[nave]] are gothic pointed arches.

The double function of the church as both of a fortress and a church can be seen in the unusual design of having two church towers. One of the towers has later been lowered to give the church a more classic Danish church look. The larger tower also still have archer holes.

The yellow and grey memorial chapel on the southern side of the church was built in 1766-1769 by [[Adam Gottlob Moltke|Count A. G. Moltke]] and designed by [[Caspar Frederik Harsdorff|C. F. Harsdorff]]. The neo-classical style of the chapel contrasts the medieval brickwork of the church.

==The Town== The original village was situated northwest of the church. A large part of the village was consumed in a great fire in 1804 and never rebuilt since the village was undergoing [[enclosure]]. Modern day Karise is centered on the [[Karise railway station|railway station]] which was built in 1879. The railway connects Karise with neighbouring towns [[Faxe]] and [[Hårlev]] as well as [[Køge]] and [[Copenhagen]].

==Karise in fiction== According to the legend of Mrs. Marthe, her estate Karisegård was destroyed by wendish pirates. Mrs. Marthe fled to a small chamber above the apse of Karise Church and remained there until her property was reconstructed.

Poet and novelist [[Bernhard Severin Ingemann|B. S. Ingemann]] mentions the fictive person ''Karl of Riise'' in his [[historical fiction|historic novel]] ''Valdemar the Victorius'' (Danish: ''Valdemar Seier''). ''Karl of Riise'' was a [[squire]] of archbishop [[Anders Sunesen]] during the [[Northern Crusades]] against the [[Estonians]]. In the [[Battle of Lyndanisse|Battle of Lindanise]] in 1219, ''Karl af Rise'' is mentioned as being the person who caught the Danish flag, [[Flag of Denmark|Dannebrog]], when it fell from the sky.

Karise is mentioned in a few folk songs. Most famous are "Lille fregnede Louise (fra Karise)" and "Slikkehans". Karise is also mentioned in the comedy song "Syd for Køge" by Monrad & Rislund.

The title of the Danish national play [[Elves' Hill]] (Danish: ''Elverhøj'') refers to a small mound situated 2.5 kilometers northeast of Karise.

== Notable people == * [[Louise Ringsing]] (born 1996 in Karise) a footballer who plays for Brøndby IF and for the Denmark women's national under-23 team

==References== <references/>

==Further reading== * Margit Baad Pedersen, ''"Stationsbyliv" Karise 1880-1940'' 1987. * Karen Larsen, Svend Aage Hansen & E. W. Larsen, ''Landsbyen Gammel Karise - Karise historie 1'', 2004 * Karen Larsen, Svend Aage Hansen & E. W. Larsen, ''Kirkebyen Karise - Karise historie 2'', 2005 * Karen Larsen, Svend Aage Hansen & E. W. Larsen, ''Stationsbyen Karise - Karise historie 3'', 2006 * [http://www.kb.dk/elib/lit/dan/ingemann/valdemar.dkl/ B.S. Ingemanns "Valdemar Seier. En historisk Roman" (1826)]

==External links== {{commons}} * Danmarks Statistik - [http://www.statistikbanken.dk]

[[Category:Cities and towns in Region Zealand]] [[Category:Populated places in Faxe Municipality]]