Welcome to Aarhus

The population of Aarhus is younger and better educated than the national average due to the high concentration of education facilities in the city. This is one of the reasons why Aarhus is a city which constantly evolves in order to keep its position as one of the most progressive and interesting cities in the country. To learn more about Aarhus, please read here below, and click on the links to the left to learn more about specific issues.

A bit of history

Aarhus dates back to the early Viking Age and developed around 900. It started as a small settlement north of the river and was originally named Aros, which means river delta. The city had grown in size, and therefore there was appointed a missionary bishop to convert the locals, although residing outside the city walls. Later, the first Cathedral was erected in the honour of Sct. Nikolaj. The ruins are situated below our present Vor Frues church. In 1191, the newly appointed bishop, Peder Vognsen, wanting to promote the city’s bishopric, called for the creation of a new and larger Cathedral in the honour of Sct. Clemens, the sailors’ saint. With the erection of Sct. Clemens’ Cathedral, the squares and streets, which still make up Aarhus’ centre, were laid down.

The Reformation in the mid-1500s meant a weakening of the bishop’s power replaced by a thriving trade, which led to the building of the city’s first City Hall placed opposite the Cathedral. In the 1600s, the city suffered under the many wars and besiegements, which led to a general impoverishment and thus reduction of the local population. Times once again improved in the late1700s, with a growing trade in particular in connection to the harbour. Later, small factories such as a soap and tobacco companies, were built by the river. Still, the city did not expand significantly until the late 1800s when Aarhus became an important train junction. However, Aarhus only overtook Aalborg’s position as the largest city in Jutland in the 1920s.

What to do in Aarhus

Aarhus has many activities to offer. Each year in late summer, the city centre and parts of the harbour are turned into one large festival. Aarhus Festuge, which the festival is called, has almost become a national event as it attracts people from all over. Each year there is a new theme around which a large number of cultural activities are planned. During this week the city is filled with stalls, outdoor cafés, concerts, street theatre … and loads of happy people.
Big attractions in Aarhus include ARoS, Aarhus Museum of Art, the Old Town, which is an open air museum and Moesgaard Museum, which is an archaeological collection in idyllic surroundings. Read about these attractions and many more under the ‘Attractions’.

In recent years, Aarhus city centre has evolved substantially. Parts of the river running through town has been opened up (it has been running underground for many years) and an array of riverside cafés and shops have been built creating a buzzing yet cosy city atmosphere. There is also a long shopping street, ‘Strøget’, running through the centre of town from the rail station to the cathedral. There are two old department stores, Magasin and Salling, which both sell the newest high street fashion and are known for their excellent food departments. The railway station itself has also been turned into a shopping centre, called Bruuns Galleri, which also houses a cinema complex and a rooftop minigolf course. Several times a year, Aarhus hosts various sorts of markets and fairs. Ridehuset and Tangkrogen are often used venues. Ridehuset offers antiques, fashion and Christmas fairs and the outdoors Tangkrogen, by the southern part of the harbour, is the venue for large markets and travelling circuses throughout the summer.

Some of Aarhus’ best qualities are to be found around the actual city. Aarhus is situated in a picturesque setting by the sea and surrounded by large old forests; Marselis, Moesgaard and Riskov, where you can go for long walks. If you go a few kilometres inland, you can also enjoy the beautiful lakes of Brabrand and Aarslev.

Visit Aarhus Tourist Office for general enquiries and further information about what is happing in Aarhus.
Visit Aarhus
Banegårdspladsen 20
8000 Aarhus C. (Just next to Aarhus Central Station).
Website: www.visitaarhus.com

This website, aarhus.dk, is the official city web portal for information and services in the area of Aarhus. aarhus.dk is published by a privately owned company, Portal Danmark A/S, in close cooperation with the Municipality of Aarhus and other local authorities.

Unfortunately the vast majority of our services are only offered in Danish. However, on these sites, we are able to present you with some key information about the major attractions as well as some of the offers and services available in the Aarhus area.

Any suggestions and comments are most welcome, please contact info@portal.aarhus.dk