Culture of Arhus. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

The starting point of many sightseeing tours of Aarhus is Den Gamle By - the oldest and most beautiful area of the city. It can be safely called an open-air museum, as more than 70 historic buildings of various periods have been preserved in the Old Town. Almost all the buildings are open to the public. Here you can visit a hat workshop, an antique toy store, a shoemaker's shop, as well as numerous craft shops. Some old buildings are presently occupied by bakeries and pastry shops. There are several regional restaurants in the historic district. One day is hardly enough to explore all the Old Town attractions. Many tourists come here in search of interesting souvenirs. In the pre-Christmas period, a traditional fair opens in the historic district.

An important historical symbol of the city is Marselisborg Palace. It was built in the second half of the 17th century and was originally privately owned. In 1896, due to large debts, the palace passed into state ownership and began to be used as a summer royal residence. The palace retains this high status to this day. In 1967, it underwent a major reconstruction. The palace is closed for tours, but on days when no representatives of the royal family are inside, everyone can walk around a landscaped garden surrounding the building. Its most interesting part is a chic rose garden presenting more than 350 varieties of roses. Labyrinth-shaped rose bushes look incredibly impressive during the flowering period.

The city's main religious symbol is Aarhus Cathedral, which attracts tourists with its unique architecture and a roof of rich emerald color. The construction of the very first Romanesque cathedral in its place was completed in 1300. It lasted only 30 years and was completely destroyed by large fire. It was possible to rebuild it anew only in 1449. Since then, the shrine has managed to preserve its original Gothic features. Since its construction, the 96-meter-high cathedral has been one of the largest in Denmark. The cathedral's hall is so large that it can accommodate about 1,200 people at a time. The building retains several medieval frescoes, as well as a number of valuable religious artifacts that were saved from the fire. The main decoration of its interior is a gilded altar. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Among the numerous museums of Aarhus, an outstanding one is the Moesgaard Museum acquainting visitors with the ancient history of the region. The museum's exposition features archaeological exhibits discovered during the study of East Jutland, including some unique Stone Age artifacts. In 1952, the museum was replenished with a unique exhibit, which drew the attention of scientists and tourists from around the world. It got the mummy of a man who lived in these places more than 2,300 years ago. It was found in a swampy area on the outskirts of Aarhus. Visitors to the museum are also invited to check out a collection of ancient weapons, as well as stones with runic inscriptions.

Aarhus has one of the largest art museums in Northern Europe - the ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum. Its official opening took place in 2004, while the museum’s collection began to be formed much earlier. The museum currently occupies a gorgeous ten-story building built in the shape of a cube and crowned with a unique rainbow-colored glass panorama. The area of the building is about 17,000 square meters, and its halls display art exhibits of various historical periods.

Here you can see the works of famous artists and sculptors of the first half of the 19th century, as well as a collection of works by famous modernists. Several halls are dedicated to the work of contemporary artists. Temporary exhibitions are often held here too. On the top floor, you will find a unique glass panorama created by the Danish artist Olafur Eliasson. It is composed of glass of all colors of the rainbow. Visitors to the gallery will have the opportunity to admire the panoramic view of Aarhus through colored glass panels.

A beautiful 1857 building houses the unusual museum Kvindemuseet i Danmark whose exposition is dedicated to the culture and life of Scandinavian women. The museum building is used for lectures, seminars, and literary evenings. Their organizers and participants are exclusively women. An important component of the museum’s cultural program is children's events and activities.