Sightseeing in Ribe - what to see. Complete travel guide

The oldest town in Scandinavia, Ribe is a truly unique place. This settlement is situated in south-west Denmark on the coast of the North Sea. For travelers, a vacation in Ribe is like a journey to the past of the whole region. This Danish town has retained its original look that almost hasn’t changed through centuries. The town has many attractions such as medieval buildings and a cathedral built in the Middle Ages. The fabulous religious landmark didn’t have any major alterations, so it is particularly interesting to explore it. A vacation in Ribe will be particularly unforgettable for tourists interested in the culture and heritage of Scandinavia. The oldest district in Ribe is a network of narrow streets that form something like a labyrinth. All streets are cobbled in this place, and small wooden houses are cozily nestled on both sides of the roads.

Archaeologists assume that Ribe was founded no longer than in the 8th century. King Horik II of Denmark allowed Saint Ansgar to build a small church in the settlement approximately in 860. This event was mentioned in the manuscripts, and that is the earliest discovered mention of the Danish town in the historic documents. During the Middle Ages, Ribe was a prosperous merchant city that was at some point the main port of the Danish kingdom. In 1043, Wends invaded the area and became the new rulers.

The town suffered much damage during the plague epidemic in the second half of the 14th century. Many citizens died during this unexpected epidemic. The buildings that were “contagious” in the opinion of local authorities were burned down too. The history of Ribe has many sad pages. The town had to endure seven fires and several floods. Despite all troubles, Ribe turned into the largest settlement in North Europe at the edge of the 15th and 16th centuries. Napoleon’s army captured the town in 1808. During World War II, German troops conquered Ribe. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Ribe Cathedral is one of the most gorgeous religious landmarks in Denmark. Historians still argue about the exact date when the cathedral was built. The most popular opinion states that this event took place in the 50s of the 12th century. To main church in Ribe is made from volcanic tuff and limestone. It took several centuries to build the fabulous cathedral. Nowadays, Ribe Cathedral is the only building consisting of five naves. The destiny of the shrine was quite difficult and tragic, just like the destiny of the town. Ribe Cathedral was restored and rebuilt several times because of damages.

The northern tower of the cathedral collapsed just before the morning mass in 1283. Several people, who were close to the church at that moment, were killed by the falling stones. It was decided to build a new tower instead of the destroyed one. The tower, the height of which was 62 meters, was completed in 1333. The statue of the first Lutheran bishop Hans Tausen greets visitors near the entrance to the cathedral. The stone statue of another famous bishop - Hans Adolph Brorson – stands nearby. Brorson is the author of the main sacred hymn. Inside the cathedral, there are many precious frescos of the 16th and the 17th centuries, as well as the tombs of kings Horik and Christopher.

Do you like getting yourself familiar with the art of foreign cities? In the historic part of Ribe, tourists can visit the Museum of Fine Arts. This is one of the oldest cultural establishments in Denmark. The museum opened in 1891 in a villa of a famous fabricant. The museum’s collection features paintings and sculptures of different periods starting from the 18th century. A part of the museum is dedicated to the works of modern artists. The collection includes approximately one thousand exhibits.

The Museum of Fine Arts gives an insight into the history of Danish art through paintings and sculptures. There are masterpieces of the Golden Age made in the 50s of the 18th century, as well as more modern examples of the symbolic and modern art by the most famous artists and sculptors in Denmark. Besides the permanent exhibitions, the museum regularly organizes temporary exhibitions with paintings and sculptures delivered from other Danish cities, for example, from Skagen and Faaborg. All collections of the museum are available to visitors on the three floors of the building.

There are no direct flights to Ribe from foreign countries. The closest international airport is located in the town of Billund. The journey time can be different depending on the country that you travel from. After that, you need to travel to another Danish town – Esbjerg – by bus. The ride will last one hour and fifteen minutes. There are trains to Ribe that will take you to the oldest Danish town in half an hour. Of course, tourists can always call a taxi.