| Tunø | |
| Island | |
| Country | Denmark |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Odder municipality |
| Coordinates | |
| Area | 3.52 km2 (1 sq mi) |
| Population | 113 (2005) |
| Timezone | CET (UTC+1) |
| - summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 8300 (Odder) [1] |
Tunø is a Danish island in the Kattegat, approximately 4 km from Samsø.[2] The island covers an area of 3.52km² and has 113 inhabitants, as of 2005. It comes under the administration of Odder municipality. The island's premier town is known as Tunø By, the secondary town is Løkkegårde.
Tunø harbour, lies a little east of the town of Tunø By, and is protected by 2 piers. It has room for approximately 170 boats. From the harbour there is a daily ferry service to and from the town of Hou, East Jutland.[3]
Every summer the island holds a popular music festival, Tunø Festival, which often attracts international artists. In 2011 the festival will enjoy its 25th anniversary.[4]
Tunø church was most likely built in the 14th century in a Romanesque style, however it has undergone many refurbishments and now stands as a Gothic church with stepped gables or corbie steps. The church is famous for its tower which also functions as a lighthouse. The tower was originally completed in 1801. It was extended to a height of 31 metres above sea level in 1820. The tower was again heightened in 1906 to improve view to and from the lighthouse.[5] In the past the minister would have also served as the lighthouse keeper.
In 1216 the Danish king Valdemar II handed over control of Tunø to the bishop of Århus. Inside Tunø Church the minister and parish clerk's seats, which date from around 1520, are carved with the coat of arm's of Niels Clausen Skade, the then bishop of Århus.
The Church is adorned with several frescoes and triptychs. The sepulchral tablet on the north wall of the choir has a fresco depicting the vicar Jørgen Hansen, who was said to have been tossed by a bull on July 31, 1640. A triptych, with two moveable panels that were painted by evangelists in 1731, is a cupboard altar from around 1490. The triptych depicts the Virgin Mary as heavenly Queen perched on a crescent holding the Baby Jesus in her left arm whilst holding a bunch of grapes in her right hand. The Virgin Mary is flanked by Saint Clemens with an anchor and Saint Alexius. This is believed to be the only depiction of Saint Alexius in Denmark.
It is said that prior to the foundation of the church, Tunø's residents would sail to nearby Samsø to attend Nordby Kirke, whose bricked up northern door is referred to as Tunboernes dør or Tunø islander's door.[6]