Hjørring

Sister cities

• Trollhättan Municipality
• Kristiansand Municipality
• Reykjanesbær
• Werder (Havel)
• Kerava
• Changchun

History

Although archaeological discoveries show that the area was already populated 10,000 years ago, it cannot be determined exactly when an actual urban community arose. However, the town is undoubtedly Vendsyssel's oldest market town, and has been significant throughout the Middle Ages. Around 1147–1150, coins were minted in the town. A found bracteate bears the inscription Heringa, which is the Latin name for Hjørring. Throughout the Middle Ages, the thing (assembly) for the syssel of Vendsyssel met in Hjørring. The town also became a meeting place for the clergy, and there are many indications that the bishop of Vendsyssel resided in the town at least in the 12th century. Already in the early Middle Ages, three churches were established in the town: Saint Hans', Saint Olaf's and Saint Catherine's. The oldest known royal charter granting the city status as a market town were issued by King Eric IV of Denmark on 31 March 1243. The status was confirmed by new chartes issued on 19 April 1484, 30 October 1505 and 23 September 1514. The charter of 1505 gives an impression of the extent of the city: the medieval urban settlement was still located around the three churches at the top of the hill on which central Hjørring lies. The sysselting and assemblies of the clergy have at periods brought many people to the town and thus provided trade to the town's merchants and artisans. The 16th century was a period of decline for Hjørring. The activities of the Sysselting ceased sometime in the 1520s. Also the Count's Feud, a war of succession that raged in Denmark from 1534 to 1536 and brought about the Reformation in Denmark-Norway became expensive for Hjørring, as it forced the citizens to pay heavy ransoms and compensations. As a consequence of the Reformation the nearby rich…

Geography

Hjørring has been changing in recent years, with new shops and franchises opening mainly outside the city center. The most recent addition to Hjørring is the new city shopping centre, Metropol, which has led to a change in the city centre as one of Hjørring's main streets, Østergade, has been closed to vehicular traffic and is now open only for pedestrians and bicycles. Metropol which was inaugurated in March 2008, is located on Østergade and also houses the city's public library.