The village of Espe

About 525 people live in the village of Espe which has managed to hold on to its school, sports centre, and kindergarten (as of 2014). This is an active local community where a lot of effort is put into retaining its institutions, but just as in many other places this is a tough fight. That is why the village no longer has a butcher’s, a grocer’s, or any other convenience store.

From a historical point of view, Espe is an old village. It was mentioned for the first time in 1386 under the name of Æspi, meaning ‘aspen wood’. Just north of the village you’ll find Galgebakken (Gallow Hill) , which has been Salling Herrede’s place of execution in the Middle Ages. There also used to be a burial mound from the Bronze age and a burial ground from the Iron age at this site. Today, the most conspicuous remnants are the foundations of an airplane observation tower and one of the Danish Geodetic Institute’s benckmarks.

The railway from Faaborg to Ringe was opened on 1. April 1882. Many of the old railway buildings can still be seen and you can learn more about the village’s railway history, both the more cheerful and the more factual ones, from several information boards near the nature playground.

The nature playground near the Korinth-Ringe path

In connection with the launch of the nature trail, different playgrounds have been set up and information boards etc. put up in many places.

A small nature playground has been built near Espe. Here you can find table-and-bench sets, an open shed where you can find shelter and you can even read some of the exciting stories about the railway life of Espe at the beginning of the 20th century. The playground is located about 500 m from the shelter.

You can download the Danish Nature Agency’s file about the railway track here

Espe Skov

Espe Skov is a relatively young wood. The first part of the wood was planted by the Danish Nature Agency in 1999. The wood was primarily planted in order to protect the ground water reservoir as most of the ground water of the Faaborg-Midtfyn Municipality is obtained from this area. However, it’s also the plan that the wood will improve the opportunitites for outdoor activities.

The wood is next to Espe Folke og Tumlepark.

One part of Espe Skov (3 ha) is an off-leash dog park. This area is on the opposite side of the main road some 500 metres from the shelter.

Højrupgård 

You will find Højrupgård just under 6 km on the Nature path to Korinth. In addition to being a large farm, Højrupgaard also manages a number of tourist activities. At Højrupgård’s Put & Take you can catch your supper in the fish ponds. There is also a barbecue and a smoking chamber should fortune smile upon you.

The farm offers horseback riding on Icelandic horses for both experienced riders and beginners. Rides will take you into the woods and across neighbouring fields and when you’re on horseback, you have a great chance of seeing and coming surprisingly close to wildlife in an entirely different way. It is not uncommon to spot e.g. fox, roe deer, fallow deer, red kite, sea eagle and crane at short range.

For more information, prices and registration go to Højrupgård’s website:

Espe Kirke and priest Hans Agerbek

Espe Kirke was built around 1100 and the most famous story about the church is undoubtedly the one about priest Hans Agerbek.

Hans Agerbek worked as a priest in Espe Kirke from 1834 to 1841. A monument in his honour has been erected across the main road from the church and hanging in the church, there’s a portrait of him. In 1841 he took up office in Øster Hæsinge where he worked until he passed away in 1869.

Hans Agerbek was born in 1798 and lost his mother when he was just 18 months old. His father died five and a half years later and he then came into his aunt’s care in Øster Hæsinge Vicarage.

Hans Agerbek studied theology in Copenhagen and completed his studies with honours in 1822. In Copenhagen he often visited Grundtvig’s home and became very good friends with Grundtvig and Vilhelm Birkedal, who later started the non-conformist movement in Ryslinge.

Agerbek was one of the newly awakened priests that followed after the good years of the Enlightenment where priests preferred to talk about potato growing in their sermons rather than about the word of God.

Agerbek was a popular priest both in Espe and later in Øster Hæsinge with people coming from all over Funen, filling the church Sunday after Sunday, or gathering in the vicarage or in local homes. His following was so large that the villagers of Ø. Hæsinge started grumbling about having to share their priest a little too much with people outside their congregation.

In addition to what is known about Agerbek as a revivalist preacher with Grundtvigian traits, there are a couple of more colourful stories according to which he was able to exorcise and command Evil. Espe Vicarage was haunted when Agerbek lived there. One night when things were particularly bad he went up into the attic and exorcised the spirit. After that, the building was no longer haunted.

Agerbek’s coachman attended a funeral led by Agerbek. The coachman asked Agerbek afterwards why Agerbek had cried at the funeral to which he replied: “Didn’t you see a devil sitting on the coffin!”.

Agerbek died in 1869 and had a huge funeral in Øster Hæsinge churchyard where a stone was also raised to commemorate him, made by the painter and sculptor Niels Skovgaard, brother of Joakim Skovgård who decorated Viborg cathedral.