Ribe, Denmark

Ribe is a small town, the oldest town in Denmark and Scandinavia. One of the landmarks of this fabulous town is its cathedral, which was also the first Christian church built in Denmark. It towers high above the city and can be seen from miles away.

The erection of the cathedral in Ribe was a consequence of the spread of Christianity in Denmark by a Catholic monk named Ansgar. It was he who chose Ribe as the place where this religious house was to be built and made a request to the Danish king in 860. For many years, however, the cathedral did not appear as the process of converting to Christianity was a lengthy process. The cathedral in Ribe made a huge contribution to this.

Its construction began in 1150 and was completed around 1250. It was built of sandstone and volcanic tuff, and its columns and foundations were of granite. The cathedral flourished over the next few centuries, and this was no coincidence as Ribe was an important trading center and successfully developed its wealth and importance.

Unfortunately, after the Reformation of 1536, the King removed the Bishop of Ribe and seized ownership of the church. This changed its purpose as he placed weapons in its main tower and turned it into a watchtower.

The cathedral of Ribe experiences many disasters - fires, floods, storms, damage during reconstructions. But this in no way prevents it today from being a wonderful architectural example of the Romanesque style and the only church in Denmark with five wings. Inside, one can admire the beauty of the exquisite embossed bronze door with a lion's head, as well as the impressive paintings, mosaics and stained glass.