Århus

History

Århus is the oldest gross town of all the Scandinavia, probably built with the 8^ème century. Initially called Aros, the city was built by the Viking S to make of it an important pied-à-terre of the king, and especially a permanent place of trade. Its place privileged in the center of Denmark led it to make trade with the worldwide, the Germany and the Baltic States, then thereafter with all Western Europe and even some countries of the the Maghreb.

The city remained of small size until the end of the 19^ème century. At this point in time it started to grow quickly, the primary reason of this growth being the rural migration lasting the Industrial revolution. Industrialization privileging trade route, the port gave a great importance to the city, which explains why Århus was chosen by many workmen. In the years 1920, the population of Århus exceeded that of Aalborg, making the most populated city peninsula.

Period Viking

The archaeological discoveries oldest with Århus are glass shots dating from the end of the 7th century. Long buried houses with half, used at the same time like houses and workshops by the Vikings, were also found. The objects found around and inside these houses (combs, jewels, tools) indicate that the establishment dates from the beginning of the 10th century. Excavations carried out in spring 2005 made it possible to put at the day a ditch dating from the year 850 which could have delimited the center of trade around whose the city was built.

The discovery of six runic stones in and around Århus indicates that the city had some importance around the year millet, since only the fortunate families used about it.

XVIIe and XVIIIe centuries

The city suffered probably much during the wars from the 17th century. The fortifications still existing in the south of the city point out the campaigns of the German imperial troops between 1627 and 1629. In 1644, Sweden taxed the city hard and, between 1657 and 1659, the city was occupied on several occasions by the Swedish troops.

In spite of the wars and other unhappy events, like the plague and the fires, Århus remained an important city in Denmark because of its favorable geographical location, which made a significant shopping mall of it. The trade came primarily from the Jutland, but also from Norway, Lübeck, Amsterdam, England, France and Spain. The merchant fleet counted approximately 100 ships at the 18th century.

XIXe century

The city gained more independence with respect to Copenhagen and of Hamburg at the 19th century. Whereas it was the third city of Jutland at the beginning of the century, its population exceeded that of Randers in 1840 and that of Ålborg in 1850, becoming thus the second Danish city.

Economic prosperity continued to increase with the expansion of the port and the development of the railway network. Culturally, it indicated itself like the capital of Jutland.

Geography

The city is roughly in the center of the kingdom, in the peninsula of Jutland. It is with the intersection of lines of Railroad coming from the worldwide. One finds many parks, forests and natural reserves in the neighborhoods of Århus, and even in the city. The city is built in the form of half-circle around the port, this one being mainly industrial with however a rather important marina in the south of the city.

Although Denmark is famous to be very flat, the city is on a slope, the highest part being located at North. This characteristic relates to only the city, the landscapes remain flat as of the exit of the city. The east coast primarily rock downtown, but the beaches in the neighborhoods of the city are generally made of sand. A beach in grass was arranged in the south of the city. With share with Århus, the coasts are populated little, because of a national policy preferring to rather keep the residences inside the grounds than in seaside.

Population

The agglomeration of Århus counts almost 300.000 inhabitants, but approximately 700.000 people live with less than 30 minutes in the car, which places Århus in second position behind Copenhagen in term of population. In the passing of the reform of fascinating administrative cutting places the 1^er January 2007, the city will belong to the area Jutland-Exchange literally (: center Jutland). It will be more the big city of the area, and the central point of the economy and the Culture of this part of the country.

This new area will represent 1.220.000 people and Århus should live important changes in the next years because of the migratory flux of the areas neighborhood towards the city. Consequently, the construction of approximately 70 turns of more than 10 stages of now-and-already is envisaged, and of many others are in the course of reflection. Århus is the city whose expansion is fastest in Denmark, with approximately 2.500 new inhabitants per annum. In 1980, the city counted 245.000 inhabitants, and this number exceeds 300.000 today. The area built-up around Århus extends about from Skanderborg in the south with Studstrup in north, that is to say on a distance of 40 km.

Transport

Like any Danish big city, Århus is very well equipped in cycle tracks. Those skirt almost each road of the city, each side, and are broad enough for two bicycles of face, even more. They are used advisedly, it is means of transport very much used, in particular by the young people. Carparks with bicycles are available in all the principal places public. The city also places at the disposal of the city-bike , bicycles empruntables free which are obtained same manner as a carriage of large surface. These bicycles are particularly practical for the tourists.

Displacements with foot are frequent also, especially of center town including one great part is reserved to the pedestrians. These alternative means with the car make that the traffic is slightly reduced, but remains of the same order of magnitude as in the European cities of the same size. The motorists as well as the cyclists and the pedestrians are very respectful highway code.

Århus lays out of two drunk networks of distinct. The first, equipped with yellow vehicles, connects the principal residential districts to the downtown area. The buses are frequent, the network is ideal for the daily ways of the inhabitants of Århus even or for the tourists wanting to move in center town. The second network is composed of blue buses, and rather connects the Banlieue to the center town. The buses are less frequent and serve less stations. Public transport is relatively expensive, as example a ticket of bus " jaune" of single use 18 Danish crowns costs, which is a dearer than Parisian subway ticket/drunk. There is no Tramway or of Métro.

Århus has an airport located at Tirstrup with approximately 30km of distance (code AITA: AAR).

A coed city

The city accommodates approximately 40.000 students for a population of 300.000 inhabitants. Half of these students are with the Université of Aarhus, the others being mainly distributed in the school of engineer and the business school. The various places of study offer formations in many fields, which they are technical or theoretical, scientific or literary. The students play a big role in the social life and cultural of the city. Many events are organized by them and for them, in particular thanks to STUDENTERHUS ÅRHUS (house of the students of Århus). As in much of cities, certain trade and establishments offer also preferential rates to the students, sometimes very advantageous.

The students are placed in residences which are generally reserved to them. These residences are called kollegium and not very honéreuses, are compared with the price of the apartment (Denmark has a high standard of living). The students share a great kitchen (for 15 people approximately) and other facilities such as television or the laundry, and possibly the toilets and the bathroom. There exist also structures where two students divide a large apartment, for a price slightly higher than that of the kollegium .

Being given the price of the bars and discotheques in downtown area, the students often prefer to meet between joint tenants or in the bar of their residence rather than going downtown. They meet also traditionally at the time of the friday bar , the bars improvised in the majority of the departments of the university and opening Friday afternoon.

Attractions of the city

Århus Domkirke - larger cathedral of Denmark
VOR Frue Kirke - remarkable Church
Århus Rådhus - Built by two famous architects (Arne Jacobsen and Erik Møller) in the years 1940, the Town hall is one of the prides of the inhabitants of Århus
Aarhus Universitet - University of Århus
Statsbiblioteket - One of the two national libraries, the other being with Copenhagen. It is a national library in the direction where it has a copy of all the written publications of the country. It is located in the university, and is with its 18 stages one of the highest buildings of the city.
Det Jyske Musikkonservatorium - Conservatory of the Jutland
Botanisk Cuts - Botanical garden
Tivoli Friheden - Amusement park
Den Gamle By - Museum of outdoor showing the city and the life of its inhabitants such as it was formerly.
Moesgård Museum - Museum prehistoric.
ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum - the principal museum of arts of the city, exhibitor of modern works
Aarhus kunstbygning - Another museum of arts
Marselisborg Slot - royal Castle of Århus, second home of the queen Margrethe II
Århus Teater - official Room of theater
Musikhuset - Room of music and theater
Dyrehaven - Park with stags and wild boars (in enclosure)
Skejby Sygehus - the second larger hospital of Denmark
Atletion - a stage multi-sports

Famous people originating in Århus

Ole Rømer
Jens Christian Skou
Bjarne Stroustrup
Ole WORM
Lene Hau
Steffen Brandt
Flemming Povlsen
Marc Rieper
Camilla Martin
Kaare Norge

See too

Said Convention of Aarhus, convention “on the access to information, the participation of the public in the decision-making process and the access to justice as regards environment” is an international agreement which was signed the June 25th 1998 by 39 States.

External bonds

Official site of the city
, Tourist site of the city
, Aarhus Universitet

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