A different Denmark – Inside the cathedral of Ribe
The cathedral was built during the 12th century and is a perfect example of a Romanesque building. Wikipedia has a beautiful description of it:
The towers contain six bells. The oldest surviving bell was cast in 1456 by Hinrik Dobbran, a Melchior Lucas bell, the largest in the tower, from 1599, the smallest bell from 1770 cast by JN Bieber, a Jacobus Fr. Beseler from 1847, one from 1858 cast by PP Meilstrup the Elder, and one from 1869 by PP Meilstrup the Younger.[1]
The organ facade is from the Johan Heide organ of 1635. Heide was a Flensburg organ maker from 1615-1641. He was an apprentice of the royal organ maker, Nicolaus, Maas. The organ has been expanded and updated many times. A new organ was built in 1973 by Frobenius and enlarged by the same company in 1994. It has 50 voices.
The main altar piece was painted by Ebbe Jehn Petersen.
The ship which hangs at the crossing is a model of the ship “Maria” by B. Cl. Jensen of Ribe.
In the restoration of the late 19th century the walls were complete cleared of the plaster layers. Unfortunately this destroyed many rich medieval fresco paintings that enlivened the walls of the cathedral before the Reformation. A painting of the Virgin and infant Jesus have been preserved in the nave and a pillar has paintings of Apostle Andrew and Bartholomew. St George and the Dragon are have been preserved in the north transept.
Several epitaphs from the past have been preserved in the cathedral. The oldest is was raised by King Valdemar for his son in 1231. In the south transept is the chapel of Admiral Albert Skeel partially in sandstone and fine wood carvings.
Once you are inside you are simply in awe for all this grandeur! Simply breathtaking!
You can visit the cathedral for free; if you want to visit one of the towers, you have to pay a small fee.
Want to go there? This is the address:
Torvet 15, 6760 Ribe
Check out my new blog: http://ingriddendievel.blogspot.be!
Read about our travel adventures of the summer of 2011: Go East!!
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11 Comments on “A different Denmark – Inside the cathedral of Ribe”
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Ingrid is a Worldette!
beautiful photographs… Thanks and Love, nia
Gorgeous.
Thanks for the comment!
Ingrid, you KNOW I love your photo work. BUT you have really caught my Eye with the 2 photos of the wonderful Pipes in this church. Pipe Organs are my Fettish. I LOVE IT! Thank you.
Lars is an organ player
In your travels does he get the opportunity to play any of those great prgans?
Most of the time, no
Are these the bells they say ring out once a day for the Former Queen (Princess?) who lost a child or something similar?
I asked Lars and he wasn’t sure about this one.
This is a fantastic cathedral. Did you walk up the tower? Fabulous view from the top. This post brought back more fantastic memories. Tusind tak. A thousand thanks.
We both suffer from vertigo, so no
And you(re welcome!