Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
With a lofty nave spanning nearly 100m in length, Aarhus Domkirke is Denmark's longest
church. The original Romanesque chapel at the eastern end dates from the 12th century,
while most of the rest of the church is 15th-century Gothic.
Like other Danish churches, the cathedral was once richly decorated with frescoes that
served to convey biblical parables to unschooled peasants. After the Reformation in 1536,
church authorities, who felt the frescoes smacked too much of Roman Catholicism, had
them all whitewashed, but many have now been uncovered and restored. They range from
fairy-tale paintings of St George slaying a dragon to scenes of hellfire.
A highlight of the cathedral is the ornate, five-panel gilt altarpiece made in Lübeck by
the renowned woodcarver Bernt Notke in the 15th century.
Vor Frue Kirke
CHURCH
(
;
www.aarhusvorfrue.dk
; Frue Kirkeplads;
10am-4pm Mon-Fri, to 2pm Sat
MAP
GOOGLE MAP
May-Sep; shorter hrs Oct-Apr)
Set back from Vestergade, the Church of Our Lady is like a Russian
matryoshka
(nesting
doll), opening to reveal multiple layers. It was here that the original Aarhus cathedral was
erected shortly after 1060. That cathedral stood until about 1240, when it was replaced by
the current red-brick church, whose main treasure lies in it basement: the vaulted
crypt
of
the original cathedral (enter via the stairs beneath the chancel), uncovered by chance in
1955 during a restoration.
Vor Frue Kirke has yet another
chapel
, this one exhibiting early 16th-century frescoes.
It can be entered through the garden courtyard - take the left door.
Møllestien
STREET
While you're exploring the old part of town, be sure to wander idyllic Møllestien, easily
Aarhus' prettiest street - all cobblestones, pastel-coloured cottages and climbing roses.
Kvindemuseet
MUSEUM
10am-5pm Tue-Sat, to 8pm Wed;
)
