Ribe
Sign in to saveRibe () is a town in south-west Jutland, Denmark, with a population of 8,367 (2025). It is the seat of the Diocese of Ribe. Until 1 January 2007, Ribe was the seat of both a surrounding municipality and county. It is now part of the enlarged Esbjerg Municipality in the Region of Southern Denmark. It is the oldest town in Denmark.
Key facts
- Settlement.official_name
- Ribe
- Settlement.settlement_type
- Town
- Settlement.image_skyline
- RibeVue.jpg
- Settlement.image_caption
- Ribe seen from Riberhus
- Settlement.image_shield
- Coat of arms of Ribe.svg
- Settlement.pushpin_map
- Denmark#Denmark Region of Southern Denmark
- Settlement.pushpin_label_position
- bottom
- Settlement.pushpin_map_caption
- Location in Denmark
- Settlement.subdivision_type
- Country
- Settlement.subdivision_name
- Denmark
- Settlement.subdivision_type1
- Region
- Settlement.subdivision_name1
- Southern Denmark (Syddanmark)
- Settlement.subdivision_type2
- Municipality
- Settlement.subdivision_name2
- Esbjerg
- Settlement.area_urban_km2
- 7.4
- Settlement.population_as_of
- 2025
- Settlement.population_urban
- 8,367
- Settlement.population_density_urban_km2
- auto
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
16 sectionsContents
- History
- Demographics
- Notable sites
- Education
- Schools
- Transport
- Notable people
- The arts
- Politicians, clergy, and officials
- Science and business
- Sport
- Twin cities and towns
- See also
- References
- Sources
- External links
Ribe () is a town in south-west Jutland, Denmark, with a population of 8,367 (2025). It is the seat of the Diocese of Ribe. Until 1 January 2007, Ribe was the seat of both a surrounding municipality and county. It is now part of the enlarged Esbjerg Municipality in the Region of Southern Denmark. It is the oldest town in Denmark.
==History== thumb|Street in Ribe The town was a center of commercial activity in the early 8th century, and this may have been where the riches in Denmark originated, including with royal influence. Coins may have been struck there in 720. Whichever king was involved in the digging of the Kanhave Canal may have been involved in the establishment of Ribe also. Trade contacts were mostly with Frisia and England. Of the over 300 sceatas found in Denmark, 216 come from in or around Ribe, most of them were of the Frisian Wodan type, and these were likely minted in Ribe in the early eighth century. The Ancient Diocese of Ribe was established in 948 with the consecration of Leofdag of Ribe as its first bishop.