Århus Cathedral

The inner city of Arhus consists of a semicircle enclosed by a ring road (Ringgade), its heart being the Great Market (Store Torv), in which stands the Cathedral (Sankt Clemens Kirke), dedicated to St Clement. The first church was a Romanesque basilica built between 1200 and 1500. Romanesque features are still to be found in the external walls of the nave and transepts; the chapels on the east side of the transepts also date from this time.

After 1400 the church was converted to a Gothic cathedral, Bishop Jens Iversen Lange (15th century) being the driving force behind the venture. The facade was replaced by a front with a single tower which bears an anchor motif, the attribute of St Clement. Features of the interior include the 1497 winged altar, with its rich array of figures of St Anne, John the Baptist, St Clement and the Apostles by the Lübeck master Bernt Notke, the beautifully carved 16th century pulpit by Mikkel van Gröningen, two organs and the font.

The vault paintings date from the 15th century and portray St Clement as the patron saint of the church and Christ sitting in judgment. Also of interest are the coats of arms, including those of Jens Iverson Lange; in the choir are some medieval crucifixion scenes. As well as religious services, church concerts are also held here. In front of the cathedral stands a monument to King Christian X (1955).