A Walking Tour of Aarhus City Centre
Stroll Through Central Aarhus, Denmark, Offers Various Attractions
Jul 17, 2009
Many sights in central Aarhus, considered the cultural capital of Jutland, are within walking distance of each other. A three-hour (that doesn’t include time to explore Den Gamle By) stroll takes visitors into the historic town centre and unique museums. Obviously, participants should wear comfortable shoes, and carry a map and some cash, as a few attractions charge an admission fee.
Radhuspladsen in Aarhus, Denmark
Radhuspladsen is the name of Aarhus’ Town Hall Square that features the Radhuset, the town hall. A sculpture of a sow and suckling piglets, known as the pig fountain, sits in the middle of the square, providing a lighthearted sight. Leaving the square and walking down Sondergade, one of Aarhus’ main shopping streets, to Clemenstorv, visitors will find the Unibank building on the left, with the Viking Museum in the basement.
Vikingmuseet (Viking Museum) in Aarhus, Denmark
The Viking Museum, which charges admission, came to be after Viking village remains were discovered while foundations for the Unibank building were being dug in 1964. Now, the site is a little museum that displays original ramparts and a reconstructed Viking home. Exiting the museum and turning right onto Domkirkeplads will lead walkers to the next attraction: Kvindemuseum.
Kvindemuseum (Women’s Museum) in Aarhus, Denmark
The Women’s Museum, which also charges admission, is located in a former police station next to a cathedral. It shows off the traditional daily lives of women in Denmark and documents their 20th-century progress toward equality. Ducking behind the cathedral, visitors will find Aarhus’ Latin Quarter, lined with cobbled streets, cafes, bars and boutiques.
After a wandering through the quarter, visitors may resume the walking tour by returning to Domkirkepladsen, heading west past the cathedral to Store Trov, straight though Lille Torv, down Vestergade, and to Vor Frue Kirke on the right.
Vor Frue Kirke (Church of Our Lady) in Aarhus, Denmark
Vor Frue Kirke (the Church of Our Lady) is reportedly the oldest structure in Aarhus, having been built by King Erik Ejegod in the 11th century. The building was once a former Dominican monastery and includes a crypt, which was unearthed during excavation work as recently as the middle of the last century. After exploring the church, walkers may venture down Vestergade, right at Vester Alle, through Vesterbro Torv (square) and up Hjortensgade, to the entrance to Botanisk Have, the botanical gardens.
Botanisk Have (Botanical Gardens) in Aarhus, Denmark
Exotic flowers and shrubs carpet the large area of parkland that is Botanisk Have. The gardens include a few glasshouses that nurse reportedly more than 4,000 species of plants. Walking left through the gardens will lead visitors to Den Gamle By, the old town. Den Gamle By is said to be Denmark’s most extensive and reconstructed old town, and therefore can envelop visitors for a few hours.
A three-hour walking tour in central Aarhus will provide visitors with a good mix of attractions to explore, with some charging an admission fee: Viking and women’s museums provide looks at Denmark’s past, a church takes a spooky turn with its crypt, and botanical gardens lead to Aarhus’ old town, which warrant a three-hour walk itself.
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