Aarhus
From Freepedia
- For the Aarhus convention on public participation, see Aarhus Convention.
Aarhus, also commonly known by its Danish spelling Århus, is the principal port on the east coast of Jutland and the seat of a Denmark's second-largest bishopric. It is the second largest city in the kingdom of Denmark. Population is 293.932 (July 2005) (1).
Aarhus is the site of the council of both Aarhus municipality and Aarhus County.
The district is low-lying, fertile and well wooded. The town is the junction of railways from all parts of the country. To the southwest (13 miles by rail), a picturesque region extends west from the railway junction of Skanderborg, including several lakes, through which flows the Gudenå, the largest river in Denmark, and rising ground exceeding 500 feet in the Himmelbjerget. The railway traverses this pleasant district of moorland and wood to Silkeborg, a modern town having one of the most attractive situations in the kingdom.
The harbour is good and safe, and agricultural produce is exported, while coal and iron are among the chief imports.
The bishopric of Aarhus dates at least from 951. Aarhus' 13th century cathedral, The Århus Domkirke, is the largest church in Denmark, as well as the second largest in Northern Europe, being only 1.5 ft shorter than the counterpart in Trondheim.
Aarhus is also home to one of the few ghettos in Denmark: Gellerup
One major tourist attraction in Aarhus is The Old Town (Danish: Den Gamle By), which is not actually an old part of the city itself, but a collection of old buildings from Danish history gathered from all around the country.
The Lord Mayor of Aarhus is Louise Gade from Liberal Party.
Aarhus is the home of University of Aarhus, Aarhus School of Business and the University College of Aarhus.
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The name
In medieval times the city was called kaldt Arus. In icelandic chronicles it was known as Aros (old norse ar-os = "mouth of the river"). Later the name is subtracted to Aars and not until 1406 the form "Aarhus" becomes prevalent. This gradually becomes the norm into the 1700th century. The city is mentioned the first time by Adam of Bremen who mentions that "Reginbrand, bishop of the church of Aarhus (Harusam)" participates in a church meeting in the city of Ingelham in Germany.
Viking times
The oldest archaelogical findings in Aarhus are glass pearls from the end of the 7th century while the oldest houses found are half buried viking era long houses used as both habitat and workshops.
In the houses and the adjoining archaelogical layers there have been found combs, jewelry and basic tools for a variety of uses which indicate the settlement is from approximately year 900. Digs in the spring of 2005 revealed a so called city-ditch from the year 850 which might have marked the trade centre upon which the city is built.
The finding of six rune stones in and around Aarhus indicates the city had some signifance around year 1000 as only wealthy nobles traditionally would use them.
1600-1700
During the wars of the 17th. century the city has probably suffered a great deal. Fortifications still exist south of the city in remembrance of the German imperial campaigns between 1627 and 1629. In 1644 Sweden taxed the city harshly and between 1657 and 1659 it was occupied by Swedish troops on several occasions.
In spite of these and other misfortunes as plague and city wide fires Aarhus was still a quite significant city in Denmark due to it favorable geographical position for trade.
Trade came mainly from the inland of Jutland but also from Norway, Lübeck, Amsterdam, England, France and Spain and in the middle of the 18th. century the trade fleet consisted of approximately 100 ships.
1800
In the 19th. century the city became more independent from the dominance of Copenhagen and Hamburg. While it had been the 3rd. largest city on Jutland in the early 19th century it surpassed Randers in 1840 og in 1850 Ålborg making it the largest city on Jutland and the second largest in Denmark.
The material prosperity continued to grow as the harbor was expanded and the railway network continued to grow. Culturally it marketed itself as the "Capital of Jutland" and expanded many of its cultural institutions like the national library, universities, theatres and hospitals.
Suburbs of Aarhus (listed by post number)
- 8000 Århus C
- 8200 Århus N
- 8210 Århus V
- 8220 Brabrand
- 8230 Åbyhøj
- 8240 Risskov
- 8250 Egå
- 8260 Viby J
- 8270 Højbjerg
- 8310 Tranbjerg J
- 8320 Mårslet
- 8330 Beder
- 8340 Malling
- 8355 Solbjerg
- 8361 Hasselager
- 8380 Trige
- 8381 Tilst
- 8462 Harlev J
- 8471 Sabro
- 8520 Lystrup
- 8530 Hjortshøj
- 8541 Skødstrup
Buildings and constructions
- Telecommunication Tower Arhus (Concrete tower with guyed mast on its top, not accessible for visitors)
- Skejby Sygehus (the largest hospital in Denmark, when finished)
External links
Official websites
Educational institutions
Culture
- ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum (museum of arts)
- Den Gamle By (the old city)
- Moesgård Museum (archaeological and ethnographic museum)
- Musikhuset Aarhus (concert hall)
- (Aarhus Festival of Contemporary Art 2004: Minority Report)
