Southern Jutland - Denmark - page 441

tions recently performed in the area, which found evidence of Christianity arriving in Ribe
a century earlier than historians had believed.
For added atmosphere, look out for summer classical-music concerts held in the cathed-
ral.

Historic Ribe

HISTORIC NEIGHBOURHOOD

For a leisurely stroll that takes in some of Ribe's handsome half-timbered homes and idyll-
ic cobbled lanes, head along any of the streets radiating out from Torvet (note that the
night-watchman walks cover much of this ground).
To help you appreciate the surrounds, drop by the tourist office and pick up a copy of
the free Town Walk in Old Ribe brochure; it's available in Danish, English, German,
Dutch, Italian and French.
On Puggårdsgade is a privately owned 16th-century manor house, the charmingly skew-
whiff Taarnborg ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ) , where no corner is 90 degrees. Next door at No 5
is a half-timbered house from 1550. From Grønnegade, narrow alleys lead down and
across pretty Fiskergade to Skibbroen and the picturesque old harbour.

Riverfront Area

HISTORIC NEIGHBOURHOOD

Along the riverfront is Stormflodssøjlen ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; Skibbroen) , a wooden
flood column commemorating the numerous floods that have swept over Ribe. The ring at
the top indicates the water's depth during the record flood of 1634 (6m above normal!),
which claimed hundreds of lives. Although these days a system of dikes affords low-lying
Ribe somewhat more protection, residents are still subject to periodic flood evacuations.
Not far from here is Johanne Dan ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ) , an old sailing ship designed
with a flat bottom that allowed it to navigate through the shallow waters of the Ribe Å; an
onboard visit is usually only possible in conjunction with a guided tour (enquire at the
tourist office).

Sankt Catharinæ Kirke CHURCH

( ; www.ribe-kloster.dk ; Sankt Catharinæ Plads; 10am-5pm May-Sep,

MAP GOOGLE MAP

10am-4pm Tue-Sun Oct-Apr)