During a holiday to Denmark, a visit to the beautiful Ribe should certainly not be missed. Ribe is known for the Viking center and Viking museum, but the town itself also has plenty of sights
Ribe in general
Ribe is a small town located on the west coast of Jutland in Denmark. It is located directly on the Wadden Sea, just below the famous town of Esbjerg. Anyone visiting the old town center of Ribe would be wise to wear good shoes. The roads are difficult to pass due to the old stones and tourists are advised to park their car in a parking lot just outside the old town.
Domkirken
Ribe’s landmark is undoubtedly ‘De Dom’. This Church of Our Lady has been around since 1150. Ultimately, the construction of the church was completely finished between 1225 and 1250. During Christmas night in 1283, one of the two high towers collapsed, killing many citizens.
The church can be visited and it is certainly worth walking all 248 steps to enjoy a beautiful view over the roofs of Ribe and the meadows in the area.
Det gamle Radhus
The old town hall is located on the corner of Sonderportsgade and von Stockens Plads. The building was built around 1500 and first served as a trading house. Later it was used as a home (the poet Anders Bording, who published the first Danish newspaper in rhyme, was born in this house.)
In 1709 the building was bought by the municipality and became the town hall. In 1900 the building was restored and extended. Now the town hall is open in the summer months to visitors who can enjoy the museum in the building, the citizens’ hall and the former council chamber.
Klostergade
The Klostergade is a long street with many small houses that were previously built for the poor. All houses have now been changed, except for the house at number 26. This house is also called the smallest house in Ribe (with a total area of 27 m2, this is quite possible). The house clearly illustrates how most of the population of Ribe lived in the 18th century.
Sct. Catherine Kirke
Monastery
This church is also a monastery and was founded in 1228. At that time it served as a mendicant monastery. The monastery now offers shelter to singles. It is also definitely worthwhile to take a walk through the beautiful monastery gardens, which can be reached via the Klostergade.
Church
The current church is the third church on this site and was eventually saved after it was about to collapse in 1920 by placing a number of levers. One of these levers is still visible today. The first original church dates from the 15th century and in 1536 it became a parish church.
The Neder-, Mellem- and Overdammen
Ribe’s shopping street runs straight across the Ribe A river, interrupted by the three dams. Previously, water power had to power the king’s water mill, but also that of the citizens. Now only one mill is still running, but the places where the other mills were located are still clearly visible in the shopping street. The Ribe A river flows into the Wadden Sea via the Ribe Kammersluse locks.
The Storm Surge Column
The storm surge column is a long pole on which the largest storm surges in Ribe’s history are indicated. The upper ring, more than 6 meters above the normal water level, represents the storm surge of 1634. Many farms and houses were washed away and many people died.
After 1976, when many residents were evacuated for safety reasons due to a threatened storm surge, the dikes were strengthened. The storm surge column is located in the marina of Ribe, Skibbroen.
Riberhus Slotsbanke
Just outside the old city center you can still find the remains of an old royal castle. Before the castle was built, there probably was a royal estate here, as the oldest remains found here date from the 12th century. Riberhus Castle was probably only built after about 1300.
The castle was still used during the wars with Sweden in the 17th century. Afterwards, the stones of the castle were used to build houses in Ribe.
Queen Dagmar
According to the stories, Queen Dagmar was brought to Ribe from Bohemia by King Waldemar the Triumphant. They then lived in Riberhus Castle. She died during childbirth in 1212. A statue of Queen Dagmar now stands on the spot where the old castle once stood. The statue was set up and made in 1913 by the sculptor Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen.