Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
History
Founded around AD 700, Ribe evolved into a key post of the hailed Viking era. It began
when the Apostle of the North, Ansgar, was given a parcel of land by the Danish king
around 860, with permission to erect a church. It's not known when the church was built,
but the earliest record of the existence of a bishop in Ribe is 948 - and bishops have
cathedrals. During the Viking era, Ribe, linked to the sea by its river, flourished as a centre
of trade between the Frankish empire and the Scandinavian states to the north.
In the 12th century the Valdemar dynasty fortified the town, building a castle and estab-
lishing Ribe as one of the king's Jutland residences.
The end of the medieval period saw Ribe enter its most torrid time. Two factors com-
bined to send the town into 250 years of decline. A fire ripped through in 1580, and the re-
location of the royal family to Copenhagen saw royal money leave the town. In turn the
population diminished, and the bustling trade port turned into a struggling town with little
regional importance or influence.
This economic downturn was something of a blessing - there was no finance available
for building bigger and better houses, so the old town remained virtually untouched. In
1899 a tourist and conservation organisation (showing remarkable foresight) was estab-
lished, and in 1963 the town council issued a preservation order covering the core of the
old town. Their good sense has been well rewarded, with tourists flocking to soak up
Ribe's old-world charm.
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