INSPIRATION - EXPLORE RIBE, THE WADDEN SEA AND OTHER MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
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RIBE 2010: 1300 years celebration
Ribe´s medieval town centre. Ribe is Denmark´s oldest town
Ribe is Denmark’s best-preserved medieval town with narrow, cobble stone streets and timber-framed houses. Walking in Ribe is like being inside one of H. C. Andersen´s fairy tales - though Ribe at the same time also is a modern town.
Discover Ribe yourself: Historical Town walk or join a guided tour
Ribe Cathedral has received top rating in the Michelin Guide to Sights and Attractions, combining the best of old and new. You find mosaics and fresco paintings by the famous Cobra artist Carl Henning Pedersen but also fresco paintings from the Middle Ages. The Cathedral at Ribe is built in the Romanesque style. Although certain parts of the church later were constructed in a Gothic style. Ribe Cathedral is the only 5-aisled church in Denmark. You can see the tombs of rich people from the area inside the cathedral. Also two Danish kings are buried in the cathedral. Access to the Cathedral and the Commoner´s tower when services are not in progress.
Guided tours July and August 2010, Mon and Thu 11am in English
The Commoner’s Tower
Be sure to climb the inside of the Commoner’s Tower. It is 52 meters (170 feet) high with 248 steps. In clear weather one can enjoy a scenic view with the spacious landscape expanding in a radius of about 30 to 35km (19 to 22 miles). On such clear days it is possible to see the city of Esbjerg, the Wadden Sea National Park and North Sea islands of Rømø, Mandø, and Fanø - and of course all the red roofs of Ribe and the marshland.
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 Ribe, Denmark. The romantic medieval tow | |  Ribe Art Museum. Culture Night in Ribe, Denmark´s oldest town. |
To see and do in Ribe
Museum of the Viking era and the Middle Ages. Thousands of artefacts found during recent archaeological excavations in Ribe. Travel from the year 700 to the year 1700 and right through Ribe's dramatic history. Films about Vikings and Halls of historic experiences. Walk around the marketplace in the year 800 on a sunny April day or step into a reconstructed Viking ship. Stand on the corner in Ribe on a clear September day in the year 1500 - see - they are building on the church and the baker´s wife is waiting for customers. Closed Monday 1/11-31/3. Different activities during the year
All Year 2010:
"Kristine and Rolf" - two children from the Middle Ages. Special exhibition at. The children can put on medieval cloth and armour, play medieval games, have a look in the kitchen - smell the spices and the dried cod. Find out how it was to be a child in 1407 and:Visit the special exhibition "Why Ribe?" and watch the new film "The Viking Era of Ribe"
a visit to Ribe Viking Centre will provide you with a unique experience and new knowledge about the Viking era in Ribe. You can wander round the reconstructed life-size Viking estate, peopled with Vikings with whom you can work and talk.
Every day: Falconer show, open workshops, have-a-go activities: archery, dowel-making, flour grinding, bread baking and Viking games. Ribe Viking Centre is open from 1st May to 22th.October in 2010. In May, June, September and October the centre is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Here you can find what's on in 2010 at Ribe Viking Centre
Denmark's biggest Viking market
every year during the first weekend of May you can meet hundreds of Vikings at the Viking market; craftsmen, Viking warriors, horsemen, musicians etc. Ribe Viking Centre. Because of the 1300 years celebration in 2010 the Viking Market will last from 1st to 9th May
with a unique collection of paintings from Denmark’s Golden Age and the famous Skagen painters (Danish Skaw Painters). Danish art from 1750-1950. Changing special exhibitions - also for Children.
Ribe Art Museum is closed because of restoration. Expected reopening: At the end of the year 2010. Meanwhile you can see a number of exhibitions in Quedens Gaard
Follow him on his evening rounds, when he sings a goodnight song for the Ribe citizens and tells about Ribe
The Old Town Hall
small museum in the former debtor's prison. On display are, among others, the Night Watchman’s spiked mace and the executioner’s sword and thumb screws. The Old Town Hall was Denmark’s oldest functioning city hall until 2007. Although most of the official functions now have been moved to Esbjerg, official receptions and civil weddings still take place at the Old City Hall.
Opening hours:
15th May - 31th May. Mon - Fri 1pm - 3pm
1st June - 31th Aug Mon - Sun - 1pm - 3pm
1st Sept - 15th Sept Mon - Fri 1pm - 3 pm
St. Catharinae
The Black Friar Church and Abbey. The abbey is now the home for several retired Ribe citizens, but you can visit the cloister and abbey yard if you pay a little entrance fee. St. Catharinae Church and Cloister is the most Gothic-inspired structure in Ribe and is also part of "The European Route of Brick Gothic". Access to church and yard when services are not in progress
Riberhus Castle
The former castle for medieval Kings and Queens in Denmark is now ruins, moat and a statue of the beloved Queen Dagmar
Skibbroen
is Ribe's harbour. Here you can see the galley Johanne Dan and the Storm Surge pole, with a series of marks indicating the water levels during some of the worst floods in Ribe
Spring and autumn giant flocks of migratory starlings are settling down for the night in the marshes around Ribe
Ribelund Mini Animal Park, playground and the Bird observation platform
Located in beautiful surroundings close to Danhostel you will be able to get close to many animals. Fallow deer, pet goats, donkeys, horses and small kangaroos. From the observation platform you can watch the bird life at Ribe Østeraa. Shelter with picnic tables. Playground - and all for free all year
Ribelund Museum
Fascinating, small museum unfolds the past in the institution Ribelund, where once, mentally retarded people were hidden away from the world. Open Thursday 10am - 4pm
Taarnborg
was the residence for the last Catholic bishop in Ribe, and also later for the Protestant bishop and psalmist H. A. Brorson, who wrote: “Now Found is the Fairest of Roses” and other well-known hymns
How the Other Half Lives
New York photographs by Jacob A. Riis, who grew up in Ribe
Specialty shops, industrial art, supermarkets, cafes, restaurants, pubs, library and the local history archive (if you want to find your roots), etc.
The Town Market in Ribe is held every Wednesday from May to September, children, let the children visit the children's area where Ribe children sell toys and books
Bicycle rentals at Danhostel Ribe Youth and Family Hostel
Swimming bath. Ribe Svømmebad. 1km. (Closed from 9th August 2009 until January 2010)
Golf. Ribe Golfklub, Snepsgaarde 8,5km
Bowling. Ribe Bowling 2,5km.
Mini golf. At Ribe Bowling Centre, 2,5km or at Storkesøen, 2km
Fitness Centre. 50 m
Canoes. At Ribe Byferie 1,5km. May - Nov.
Put and Take Lake, Storkesøen (Stork Lake). 2km
Fishing is possible in several small rivers
Climbing wall
in Ribehallen, Danhostel Ribe. The climbing wall is one of the best in Denmark. It can only be used with an instructor present. Enquire at the hostel
Cafés and Pubs
Café Quedens. café and pub, lunch-jazz, concerts, knitting-afternoons, story-telling-evenings etc.
Stenbohus. Pub and live music (often rock)
Peppers. Pub and disco in week-ends
Café Valdemar. Pub and Café and live music
Fru Mathies. Pub. Sometimes Scottish and Irish Folk Music.
Strygejernet. Pub. Backgammon Thursday evening.
The Wadden Sea National Park
An amazing nature ready to reward your visit with surprising adventures.
Read about the Wadden Sea - and find events, tours, exhibitions, adventures, etc.: The Wadden Sea (7km).
See photos from the Wadden Sea: Wadden Sea Gallery
Read about storm surges in Ribe here: Storm Surges
Attractions and Sights within 20km - 80km
Legoland, Billund (60km)
LEGOLAND® Billund Miniland is the big world in miniature. See world-famous buildings and environments - all built of 20 million LEGObricks. Besides Legoland has more than 50 fun activities for all ages.
Koldinghus Castle, Kolding (54 km)
Koldinghus was built in the middle of the 13th century, and in the centuries that followed it was one of Denmark's most important royal castles. In 1808 there was a fire that left the castle in ruins. Today the castle has been restored and houses a museum which is a centre for cultural activities and special exhibitions of international standing.
Trapholt Museum, Kolding
art, industrial art, design and furniture design, Kolding (54km)
Jelling
Runes and burial mounds of King Gorm the Old and Thyra, his queen. (70km). Jelling is included in the list of UNESCO sites regarded as being part of our world-wide cultural heritage.
The UNESCO monument includes the two runic stones in front of the Church, the Church itself and the two impressive mounds to the north & south of the church.
Nolde Museum
Museum associated with the famous artist and painter Emil Nolde, Seebüll, Germany (62km)
The Lion Park at Givskud (80 km)
Gram Lergrav.
Clay pit. Dig after fossils in the clay that was once the bottom of the sea (20km)
Wellings’ Village Museum, Lintrup (16km)
Krydderurtehaven. The herb garden in Plougstrup, Gredstedbro (16km)
Safari Zoo Park, Lintrup (16km)
The largest livestock auction
and flea market in Northern Europe is held in Brørup (23km)
