Ribe is the oldest town in Denmark and one of the oldest in the Nordic countries and is more than 1000 years old.

Ribe is from the late 9th century, making it the oldest town in the Nordic region. It is a lovely spot to visit and look at the cobblestone streets with the many old half-timbered houses from the 16th century with beautifully painted doors. In Ribe, you also find the oldest cathedral in Denmark, the Ribe Cathedral.

Ribe in the Viking age

Earlier, Ribe was a seaport, and in the 13th century and during the Viking age, it was one of the most significant towns in Denmark. If you are interested in the Vikings, Ribe is one of the best places to visit. You can see the Ribe Viking Museum just opposite the railway station or Ribe Viking Center, 3 km (2 miles) south of the town centre. This open-air museum has an exhibition of Ribe in the Viking era. If you wish to get more insights into the life of the Vikings, Ribe is the place to visit.

The oldest in Denmark

Ribe Cathedral was built from 1150 to 1175 and is the first Christian church in Denmark. It is built of a soft, porous rock called Tufa, and this material was brought up from Cologne in Germany. The most notable features of the church interior are the 16th-century frescoes and the modern mosaics by the famous Danish artist Carl-Henning Pedersen.