Domkirkepladsen 1

At 93 meters long and 96 meters tall, St. Clemens Cathedral in Aarhus is the largest church in Denmark. Dedicated to the patron saint of sailors, it serves as the cathedral of the Lutheran Diocese of Aarhus and has room for 1,200 people. The history of the site goes back to the 10th century, when the first wooden church was built here. The present brick building dates from the 13th century, begun in the Romanesque style and expanded in the Gothic style in the 15th century. After a devastating fire in 1330, rebuilding took more than a century, and the church was not completed until 1500. A lightning strike destroyed the tower in 1642; it was not restored and raised to its current height until the 1920s.

Inside, you'll find an extraordinary collection of artworks created over the course of centuries. Particularly remarkable are the frescoes, which adorn the interior across more than 220 square meters and mostly date from between 1470 and 1520. This gives the cathedral more surviving wall paintings than any other church in the country, including the Romanesque "Lazarus Window" from 1300. Another highlight is the 14-meter-tall stained-glass window, designed in 1926 by the Norwegian artist Emmanuel Vigeland and considered the largest of its kind in Denmark. The high altar, carved by the Lübeck sculptor Bernt Notke, is regarded as a national treasure, while the Baroque tombs by the Flemish artist Thomas Quellinus give the chapels their character.

The furnishings are rounded out by further historic pieces, including an oak pulpit from 1588 and a bronze baptismal font from the 15th century. The main organ, built in the Baroque style in the 18th century and expanded several times, now has 89 stops, making it the largest church organ in Denmark. Beneath the crossing hangs the large model ship "Enigheden," a votive offering that recalls the country's maritime history. The crypt also holds the remains of thousands of citizens from all walks of life, making the cathedral a central place in the city's identity.