Aarhus Cathedral

Aarhus Cathedral
Aarhus Cathedral, main entrance and tower
56°9′25″N 10°12′38″E / 56.15694°N 10.21056°E / 56.15694; 10.21056Coordinates: 56°9′25″N 10°12′38″E / 56.15694°N 10.21056°E / 56.15694; 10.21056
Location	Domkirkepladsen 2 8000 Aarhus
Country	Denmark
Denomination	Church of Denmark
Architecture
Status	Church
Architectural type	Romanesque
Completed	1300
Specifications
Materials	Brick
Administration
Archdiocese	Diocese of Aarhus

Aarhus Cathedral (Danish: Aarhus Domkirke) is a cathedral in Aarhus, Denmark. It is the longest and tallest church in the country, at 93 m (305 ft) in length and 96 m (315 ft) in height.

The construction of Aarhus Cathedral began in the 12th century and it is the main edifice of the diocese of Aarhus for the Church of Denmark, dedicated to the patron saint of sailors, St. Clemens. The cathedral is situated on the port side of the central square of Store Torv (Large Square), with address "Domkirkepladsen 2, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark" in the inner city. The church can seat around 1200 people.

It is unknown exactly when people settled near the mouth of the Aarhus River on the coast of Jutland. Certainly in the years 900 there was a Viking town there. Recent research has dated the building of the first city wall to 934. Aarhus was a town of some importance, as there are six runestones in or near the city. Aarhus was called Aros, Arus, Aarhus or Aars, as early as the 15th century. The city's charter of 1449 names it "Aarss". After the Reformation in Denmark, the name "Aarhus" became current.

Aarhus' first church, Holy Trinity Church, a timber structure, was built during the reign of Frode King of Jutland around year 900 on a pagan burial site in what was then the center of town. The first bishop was Reginbrand, a missionary bishop of Aros in 948 under the Archbishop of Hamburg. Aros came under the rule of the Archbishop of Viborg in 1060. According to Adam of Bremen, Aros was made a dependent diocese before 998.