Ribe Cathedral

Ribe Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of Our Lady
Vor Frue Maria Domkirke
Ribe Cathedral. Because of its long and troubled history, the building reflects a plethora of different architectural styles and artistic traditions.
55°19′41″N 8°45′41″E / 55.3281°N 8.7613°E / 55.3281; 8.7613
Location	Ribe
Country	Denmark
Denomination	Church of Denmark
Previous denomination	Catholic Church
Website	Website of the Basilica
History
Status	Active
Founded	860
Founder(s)	Ansgar
Dedication	Virgin Mary
Architecture
Functional status	Cathedral church
Years built	1150-1250
Groundbreaking	1150
Specifications
Number of spires	2
Bells	6
Administration
Diocese	Ribe
Clergy
Bishop(s)	Elof Westergaard
Dean	Jens Torkild Bak

Ribe Cathedral or Our Lady Maria Cathedral (Danish: Ribe Domkirke or Vor Frue Maria Domkirke) is located in the ancient city of Ribe, on the west coast of southern Jutland, Denmark. It was founded in the Viking Age as the first Christian church in Denmark by Ansgar, a missionary monk from Hamburg, under permission of the pagan King Horik I. The cathedral has experienced several damaging events throughout its long history and has been restored, expanded and decorated repeatedly. As it stands today, Ribe Cathedral is the best preserved Romanesque building in Denmark, but reflects a plethora of different architectural styles and artistic traditions. It ranks among the most popular tourist attractions in Denmark and has been awarded two stars in the Michelin guide.^[1]