Randers

Sister cities

• Västerås Municipality
• Akureyri
• Lahti
• Jelenia Góra

History

Randers was formally established around the 12th century, but traces of activity date back to Viking times. Canute IV of Denmark (ca. 1043–1086), also known as Canute the Saint and Canute the Holy, and as patron saint of Denmark, minted coins in the town. He had plans to attack England and its ruler, William the Conqueror, He assembled people in this town. A chronicle written at Essenbæk Abbey tells of a fire that ravaged the city. The city was destroyed and rebuilt three times in the 13th century. In 1246, it was burned down by Abel of Denmark's troops during the civil uprising against Eric IV of Denmark. On a street in the town center is the house where, according to legend, Danish nobleman and national hero Niels Ebbesen killed Count Richard (Gerhard) III of Holstein on 1 April 1340, during the Kingless Times, when the entire country was pledged to German counts. This action led to further insurrection against the Germans. Ebbesen died in a large battle at Skanderborg Castle in December 1340. A statue to Ebbesen stands in front of Randers's Town Hall today. When King Valdemar IV of Denmark (Valdemar Atterdag) tried to assemble a government in 1350 after the mortgaging to the Holsteiners, the town was further reinforced with protection, and was often named as Randershus ("Randers Fortress"). This fortification was captured by dissatisfied nobility in 1357. In 1359 Valdemar attacked the captured city with the strength of all of his forces. During medieval times the city prospered as a market town. Randers was granted privileges as a market town in 1302, creating a significant amount of trade. It prospered in the 15th and 16th centuries trading both nationally and overseas thanks to its harbour and cargo shipping maintained by competent craftsmen. Salmon fishing also…

Geography

Randers, and Randers municipality, lies within the geographical region of Kronjylland (Crown Jutland), a name that possibly refers to the many royal possessions in this area, in particular in former times. By road it is north of Aarhus, east of Viborg, south of Aalborg and northwest of Copenhagen. The city is Denmark's only natural river harbour, situated on the banks of the Guden River (Gudenå), about above the rivers mouth in Randers Fjord. There are several wooded areas in Randers, including Skovbakken, to the northeast of the centre, the smaller Tøjhushaven to the immediate southeast of this, north of the harbour area, and Ladegårdsbækken, a narrow stretch of woodland to the east of the hospital. Dronningborg Skov, in the hamlet of Dronningborg, is located in the northeastern suburbs of the city, and Henriettelund lies in the southwestern suburb of Vorup.

Most-observed species

• Red Kite

  Milvus milvus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  5,000
• Common Buzzard

  Buteo buteo (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,418
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  4,383
• Mute Swan

  Cygnus olor (J.F.Gmelin, 1789) · Aves
  4,316
• Graylag Goose

  Anser anser (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,814
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  3,771
• Great Tit

  Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  3,410
• Eurasian Wren

  Troglodytes troglodytes (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,335

Most recent

• M 2.6 — 2005-03-16
  13 km NNW of Kalundborg, Denmark
• M 2.8 — 2005-03-03
  29 km E of Ebeltoft, Denmark
• M 3 — 2005-02-03
  29 km NNW of Nykøbing Sjælland, Denmark
• M 3 — 2005-02-03
  32 km E of Ebeltoft, Denmark
• M 2.7 — 2005-02-01
  32 km SE of Grenaa, Denmark
• M 3.1 — 2004-11-24
  59 km E of Hals, Denmark