Aalborg is a stunning town, boasting a combination of Renaissance buildings, fascinating museums, a majestic Gothic cathedral, and the historic half-timbered Aalborghus Castle, built in the 16th century. But perhaps the most unique and attractive attraction is Jomfru Ane, a street filled with restaurants and bars.
Aalborg Attractions and Entertainment
Most of the iconic sites in Denmark’s fourth-largest city are concentrated in its Old Town. Two sites in this part of the city particularly attract tourists: the house of merchant Jens Bang and the 14th-century St. Budolphin’s Cathedral.
Jens Bang was known as one of the wealthiest men in Aalborg, and in 1624 he confirmed his reputation by constructing a massive Renaissance mansion, the largest such structure in Northern Europe. It currently houses the city’s oldest pharmacy. Another architectural landmark of the same style is located nearby: the Jorden Olufsens House. Although this house is less remarkable, the very fact that its former owner was a relative of Jens Bang is intriguing and offers an opportunity to compare the two buildings.
An interesting feature, vividly demonstrating Jens Bang’s remarkable sense of humor, is a face carved into the stone with a protruding tongue. This image is located directly opposite another landmark, the town hall. According to legend, the merchant was not elected to the city council despite his wealth. As an act of vengeance, he placed this face on the building’s façade.
The Cathedral of St. Budolfi is located practically in the very center of the Old Town and was built in honor of the patron saint of sailors. The building has undergone several renovations, and its architecture combines Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque elements. Another important landmark is the Church of Our Lady, built in the 12th century, subsequently destroyed, and rebuilt.
Thus, the building that remains today is a late 19th-century structure. In the historical part of the city is located one of the oldest monasteries in Denmark – the Monastery of the Holy Spirit.
