The historical town Aarhus

Den Gamle By

The history of Aarhus

Aarhus was originally a Viking settlement that was called Aros. There are several archaeological finds that date the town all the way back to 700 AD. Because of its location, Aarhus has always been an important trades centre both in the Denmark of the Vikings and the Middle Ages.

You can explore the city’s history multiple places but a good place to start if the Viking Age takes your interest is the small basement museum Vikingmuseet right by the Cathedral, where you can learn more about the Viking age.

Follow up your museum visit with a walk around the area, which was the setting of the Viking town Aros.

Moesgaard Museum

If you’re interested in history Moesgaard Museum in Højbjerg, south of the city centre, is a must. The museum’s impressive building appears out of the ground just as the archaeological treasures inside the museum.

Explore the fascinating permanent exhibitions with a focus on the area around Aarhusbugten and Denmark from the Stone Age up until today with the contemporary ethnographical exhibitions.

You’ll find different temporary exhibitions which have included everything from the people of Mongolia to the Neanderthals.

Museum of living history

Another absolute necessity on the list of visits for anyone interested in history is the open air museum Den Gamle By. Start your visit at the museum within the museum Aarhus Fortæller (Aarhus narrates, red.) where you travel back in time and follow the history from the Viking town Aros all the way up to the Aarhus of today

The Museum Aarhus Fortæller

Den Gamle By

Did you know, that in The Old Town you can explore old houses that have been rebuilt from different areas of Denmark.

You can also experience timber framed houses from the 16th century or the recreated flats from the 1970s with everything from jackets on hooks, food in the fridge and soap by the sink.

At Den Gamle By, you’ll learn more about life and history in Aarhus with the exhibitions about life before the 1900s, modern times in 1927 and welfare and free thinking in Aarhus in the year 1974.

1974-Quarter

Den Gamle By

A historical place

Aarhus is a historical place in and of itself and you can clearly feel that when you walk around the streets of Aarhus. At the edge of the Latin Quarter, you’ll find Aarhus Cathedral by Store Torv and Bispetorv.

The building of the Cathedral was started in the 12th century in the roman style. The cathedral wasn’t completed until close to the year 1300. The cathedral went through a major renovation from around the middle of the 15th century until 1500 which transformed the building into a gothic cathedral.

Longest church in Denmark

With its 93 meters the cathedral is the longest church in Denmark. From the very beginning the cathedral has been dedicated to Saint Clement of Rome, a patron saint of mariners.