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Town in Southern Denmark, Denmark
Photo: Hjart, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Ribe is a small town in western South Jutland, bordering the Wadden Sea National Park, Denmark. It is the oldest town in Denmark, with around 100 old listed houses, far more than anywhere else in Denmark outside of Copenhagen.
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Ribe Domkirke
Is worth a visit alone for the view from the top of the church tower, overseeing the complete town of Ribe, surrounded by flat marshes as far as the eye stretches. The view from above, of the town and the river running through it, gives a good impression of the medieval town.
Sct. Catharinæ Kirke
From 1228 until 1536 this was an important Dominican friary. The buildings are Denmark's most complete extant monastic building complex.
Riberhus is the massive earthen ramparts and moats which remains of a royal castle which was built just outside town in the 11th century, suffered heavily during conflicts with Swedish troops in the 17th century and subsequently was demolished and used for road constructions. The ramparts are still good for a nice walk and good view of the surroundings.
The vikings of Ribe
Museum focused on the Viking era and the Middle Ages.
Ribe Kunstmuseum
Has paintings from Denmark’s Golden Age and the famous Skagen painters.
The life and legacy of social documentary photographer Jacob A. Riis
Ribe Gamle Rådhus
Brick building from 1528, which from 1708 to 2007 served as Ribe's town hall. It's now used for various events and is occasionally open to tourists.
Modern office building for the cathedral. Below it is an exhibition featuring the remaining ruins of an 11th-century monastery and some early Christian graves.
the harbor
The "Johanne Dan" is a 1972 reconstruction of a 1867 ewer, a type of flat bottomed ship specifically designed for the Wadden Sea, built in Ribe. It's stuck at the harbour, since it can't pass under the new road bridge. The harbor also sports a storm surge post, which features several iron rings marking historic water levels, notably the 1634 "Burchardi flood", which reached 1,7 m inside the cathedral.
Ribe Gamle Kirkegård
Opened in 1807, the old cemetery is gradually being transformed into a nice park. Several bishops and other notable folk are buried here.
A visit to Ribe Viking Centre will provide you with a unique experience and new knowledge about the Viking Age. You can wander round the reconstructed life-size Viking estate, peopled with Vikings with whom you can work and talk
Lock at the mouth of the Ribe River. There's a nice view of the Wadden Sea from here, a boat harbour and a small exhibition.
Vadehavscentret
Visitor centre for the Wadden Sea National Park. Multimedia-show about storm surges, build your own dike, or experience the Wadden Sea through the eyes of the migratory birds who depends on these vast tidal zones. Nature guides arrange public tours in the National Park.
Stensbæk Plantage is part of a larger nature protection of beautiful heathlands and forests of more than 2000 hectares. The small Gels å river runs through the area. Experience the area on foot along several marked routes, in a canoe on the Gels å river, on horseback, or a mountainbike.
Every evening from 1st of May until 29th of October you may accompany the night watchman in Ribe on his route through the old, winding streets, while he is singing to alert citizens about bedtime approaching. Along the way he will tell you tales about witches, floods and fires.
In spring and autumn, huge numbers of starlings land in the marshes at the Wadden Sea, looking for food in the wet meadows. At such time you can observe a fascinating panorama called “Black Sun”.
The head meadow
This meadow is so named because of the old habit of putting the heads of criminals on stakes here. Today it's merely used for events such as fairs and circuses.
Large playground created 2022. 1300 m northeast from the cathedral
17th century timber framed house. Decent prices.
Restaurant Dagmar resides at the old Hotel Dagmar
Informal cellar restaurant, meals and beer in company with the locals.
Cozy timber-framed inn dating back to 1600
Listed building dating back to 1668. Has a cafe and a courtyard.
Large timber-framed building complex dating back to 1580. Has a nice cafe and a cozy court yard.
Cafe in a cozy old timber-framed house with courtyard
Last dedicated bakery left in town
First registered in 1810, it is the second oldest bar in Denmark.
Pub in the former hotel, opened 1811.
Microbrewery in an old railway depot.
Ribe's hostel. Has a nice view of the harbor.
Prominent brick building, part of which dates to 1581, named after king Valdemar the Victorious' queen who died in Ribe May 24 1213
The Old Prison
The former prison is now a hotel and a cafe
Large modern apartment complex.
Large camp site.
Art gallery in a timber framed house, which was the home of bishop Hans Tausen (1494-1561).
The streets in the old parts of the town are practically all pedestrianised, so the only really practical method for getting around is on foot.
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Articles and travel topics about Ribe and Denmark.
ItinerariesThe Marguerite Route (Margueritruten) is a long route around Denmark passing the country's major cities and more than a thousand smaller and larger attractions.
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Culture & historyAn open-air museum is in its broadest sense any exhibition made up of several buildings with a historical theme. These can be historical buildings on site, buildings relocated from other places, or modern replicas.
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Culture & historyVikings redirects here. For the town in Alberta, see Viking (Alberta) The Nordic countries are remembered for the Viking Age, a period during the 9th and 10th centuries, when the Norsemen sailed the seas and rivers of…
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Culture & historyOld towns of the Nordic countries outlines a list of notable old towns in the Nordic countries.
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