Ribe - The Oldest Town in Denmark

Friday, the 20th of May in Danmark was a public holiday, and as a result our family packed up the car to head into Jylland, or Jutland in english, for the weekend. With an enthusiastic American who has a passion for history in tow (Michael), our first and lengthiest visit on Friday was to Ribe. Ribe is the oldest town in Danmark where archeologists are still today uncovering pieces of Ribe's long and rich history as a viking town.

This town is known to be a viking town and trading post in the 8th century, though at that time it was primarily used seasonally. While this town in Southwestern Jylland used to be centered about Riberhus, a castle which was destroyed in 1658 by the Swedes, today the center of the town is undoubtedly the Cathedral. In Ribe we went to the Viking Museum, which has a significant amount of artifacts including some finds that were just made around Easter. It is amazing to see the level of development of this town at a time when the United States did not exist.

In order to really get a feel for the history in Ribe, one must take to its winding, cobblestone streets. Then when you are famished, I would recommend stopping at Weis Stue. This inn & restaurant is from the 1600s. The ambiance of the place is amazing, with antique furnishing and an authenticity that can not be replicated.

After eating a scrumptious meal of rye bread, herring, frikadeller, and local cheese, it is a perfect place to recharge before heading to the Cathedral, and the climb up its tower.

While the first church in Ribe was built in 860, the current cathedral,Vor Frue Maria Domkirke, has elements that remain from the original stone church built in the early 1100s. After exploring the church's interior we headed up the tower stairs to see the view from the top. On our ascent we also got to see the bell, which is still in use today. It is a very good thing we did not decide to start the climb when it was slated to ring.

The view from the top was incredible. With the countryside in the distance, and beautiful historical building dotting the landscape it is really a sight worth seeing.

Michael and I definitely enjoyed this family trip to Ribe with Ole and Birgitte. Ribe is a beautiful town, and seeing it with such amazing people is an experience that can not be surpassed.

Vi Ses!