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AALBORG
Aalborg is the fourth largest city in Denmark - after
Copenhagen, Aarhus and Odense - with an urban population
of 122,794. It is the location of Aalborg Air Base, an
important base of the Danish air force, and is the seat
of a Lutheran bishop.
Railway connects Aalborg with Hjørring, Frederikshavn,
and Skagen to the north, and with Aarhus and the lines
from Germany to the south, as well as to Copenhagen in
the east over the island of Funen.
The harbour is good and safe, though fairly difficult to
access.
The annual carnival takes place in the weekend of week
21 (usualy the last week in may). The Carnival is
actualy three events, the childrens carnival (Børnekarneval),
the battle of carnival bands, and the carnival itself.
During the carnival, Aalborg receives about 100,000
people. The childrens carnival is a carnival dedicated
to the children, with performances and activities for
children. Friday “The Battle of Carnival Bands” is an
exciting and colourful evening with processions through
the city when all the participating groups compete to be
the leading carnival group.
The carnival itself is the following Saturday – on this
day the city centre is full of life. The streets are
filled with gaily dressed people who are in a real
spring mood. In Kilde Park concerts are given from
various stages all day to midnight. The Carnival ends
with a grand firework display.
The old castle Aalborghus Castle (Aalborghus Slot) and
some picturesque houses of the 17th century remain in
the center of the town. The half-timbered (bindingsværk)
castle was built in 1550 by King Christian III, and was
converted to government administration offices in the
1950s.
Budolfi Church cathedral dates mostly from the middle of
the 18th century, while Vor Frue Kirke (Church of Our
Lady) was partially burnt in 1894. The foundations of
both churches are from the 14th century or earlier.
There are also an ancient hospital and a museum of art
and antiquities.
On the north side of the Limfjord is Nørresundby, which
is connected to Aalborg by a road bridge, an iron
railway bridge, as well as a motorway tunnel running
under the Limfjord. Nørresundby is the site of the
Lindholm Høje settlement and burial ground from the
Germanic Iron Age and Viking times. There is also a
museum on the site.
Aalborgtårnet. A tripod tower erected in 1933. The tower
still gives an exquisite view over the fjord and the
city from its 105 m rise over the sea level. |
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