Dominating Ribe’s skyline is the impressive Ribe Cathedral (ribe-domkirke.dk, free), which dates back to at least 948 CE (the earliest record of the existence of a bishop in Ribe) – making it the oldest in Denmark. The cathedral was largely rebuilt in 1150 when Ribe was at the heart of royal and government money, which in turn paved the way for some fine architectural structures. The present cathedral, soaring divinely over the South Jutland marshland, dates from around 1225. Designed in the Romanesque style of the early Middle Ages, it was constructed primarily from tufa, a soft porous rock quarried near Cologne and shipped north along the Rhine.
Later Gothic additions include the 52m-tall Commoners' Tower (adult/child 25/15kr), which you can climb via a labyrinthine ascent through the cathedral’s inner workings, each step soundtracked by the ferocious clicking of the 1696 clock. Up top, you’re rewarded with inspiring views over red rooftops and flat green fields, the Ribe Å river tracing a winding course out to the Wadden Sea. A museum (domkirkemuseetribe.dk) partway through the climb details the cathedral’s construction history, explaining how an earlier tower collapsed on Christmas morning in 1283, killing several townspeople. Allow 30 minutes to get up the tower and back down.
The Commoner's Tower was also used as a flood lookout. Over the centuries, tidal surges have burst through dikes and devastated Ribe. A mark on the pillar behind the pulpit shows the high-water mark in 1634, the worst flood ever recorded in South Jutland.
The interior decor of the church is a hotchpotch of influences. There’s an organ with a facade designed by renowned 17th-century sculptor Jens Olufsen and a baptismal font from 1375, and you can find remains of paintings from the 16th century on the last two pillars on the northern side of the cathedral. In striking contrast, the apse features 1980s stained glass and mosaics by Danish artist Carl-Henning Pedersen, nicknamed the "Scandinavian Chagall." The funky mosaics enliven the church and add a fascinating contrast to the more somber features.
For added atmosphere, look out for summer classical-music concerts held in the cathedral.
