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Riberhus today

Denmark · Partial ruin

Riberhus

Riberhus was a medieval royal castle on the western outskirts of Ribe, Denmark. Its site today survives as an approximately square, 8-metre-high earthen bank surrounded by moats, with only fragmentary remains of buildings visible.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1543

Today

Partial ruin

As it stood in 1543

What Riberhus looked like in its prime.

A compact, roughly square royal castle occupying the flat top of an artificial bank about 8 metres high and approximately 90 by 90 metres in plan, surrounded by a continuous water-filled moat fringed with reeds. The castle was built and rebuilt in brick: low-to-mid-height brick ranges and corner buildings ring the summit around an open central courtyard; the masonry sits directly on the grassy bank top with embanked slopes down to the moat.

Its story

The story of Riberhus.

Riberhus is believed to have been built by King Eric V of Denmark in the 1260s on the western outskirts of Ribe. Throughout the Middle Ages it ranked among the more important royal castles in Denmark, initially the seat of the king's vassal for south-western Jutland and thus the centre of local government. In 1330 Christoffer II pawned it to Gerhard III, Count of Holstein.

Christian III renovated the building in 1537–1543, but after the Swedish wars of the 17th century the castle lost its military importance and fell into disrepair. The site, known as Riberhus Slotsbanke, survives as an almost square embankment about eight metres tall, ringed by moats, with a bronze statue of Queen Dagmar by Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen standing on its southern corner.

Step inside

6 places to explore in 1543.

The record describes 6 distinct spots at Riberhus, including 2 interiors: central courtyard on the summit, eastern corner, skriverstuen (the scribe's house). Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach across the southern moatMoat edge with reedsCentral courtyard on the summitEastern corner, Skriverstuen (The Scribe's House)Southern corner angleNorthern corner of the bank

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Questions about Riberhus

What is the history of Riberhus?

Riberhus was probably built in the 1260s as a royal castle and became an important centre of government in south-western Jutland. It was pawned to Gerhard III, Count of Holstein, in 1330 and reacquired by Valdemar Atterdag in 1383. Christian III renovated it between 1537 and 1543, but it fell into disrepair after the Swedish wars of the 17th century.

What is inside Riberhus?

Riberhus contains the remains of Skriverstuen, or The Scribe's House, on the eastern corner. The surviving remains are from the cellar of a 14th-century building. The summit also has a central courtyard and the eastern corner area, while the main building once stood along the south-western side of the bank.

Why was Riberhus built, and what was it used for?

Riberhus was built as a royal castle and initially served as the seat of the king's vassal for south-western Jutland. It was therefore a centre of local government, while the wider network of royal castles helped strengthen the king's power in the regions and guard against attack. Later, it also had a military role, but lost that importance after the Swedish wars.

Where is Riberhus?

Riberhus is on the western outskirts of Ribe, in Esbjerg Municipality. The castle bank lies immediately north-west of Ribe and stands in the flat countryside surrounding the town.

When was Riberhus built?

Riberhus was built in the 1260s, although its first-raised year is not recorded. It is associated with King Eric V of Denmark, who is believed to have commissioned the castle. The building was later extended and renovated, including Christian III's work between 1537 and 1543.

Was Riberhus ever attacked or besieged?

Riberhus was attacked during the Swedish wars of the 17th century. It was shelled from Borgertårnet, after which the castle lost its military importance and fell into disrepair. The supplied account does not state that the castle was captured or give a precise attack date.

What did Riberhus look like in its prime?

At its height, Riberhus was a compact brick castle on a roughly square artificial bank about 8 metres high and approximately 90 metres by 90 metres. Low-to-mid-height brick ranges and corner buildings surrounded an open central courtyard on the summit. A continuous, water-filled moat surrounded the bank, with reeds along its edge.

Is Riberhus still standing, or is it a ruin?

Riberhus is a partial ruin rather than a complete standing castle. The site survives as an approximately square, 8-metre-high earthen bank surrounded by moats, with only fragmentary building remains visible. The remains of Skriverstuen stand on the eastern corner, and the grounds were excavated and restored in 1940–1941.

Who built Riberhus?

Riberhus was probably built by King Eric V of Denmark in the 1260s. The castle was later extended and renovated, most recently in the 16th century under Christian III. No architect is identified in the supplied material.

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