Aabenraa

The picturesque city of Aabenraa is located in one of the largest municipalities in the country, the Aabenraa municipality in the region of Southern Denmark. It is the seat of the administrative council in southern Jutland and has the 7th largest harbor in the country. Flanked by the Aabenraa Fjord on one side and green forests on the other the city gracefully balances Old World charms with a robust economy. Since the early Middle Ages when it was granted a municipal charter, Aabenraa has grown from a humble fishing village to a major shipping and trading port. Due to wars and invasions, it was annexed to Prussia in 1864 and the German empire in 1871. In 1920, the Schleswig Plebiscite determined that Aabenraa be repartitioned to Denmark. Out of the over 20,000 inhabitants there is still however a significant German community in Aabenraa.
Visitors to the city will find that interestingly a number of neighborhoods dating as far back as the 19th century are still well preserved. These include areas such as Slotsgade, Nygade, Nybro and Skibrrogade to name a few. There are also a number of museums and art galleries in the city: the Aabenraa Shipping Museum chronicles the maritime industries from the Middle Ages; the Banegarden Kunst og Kultur in the old railway station displays contemporary art and is also a concert venue; the Krusmolle exhibits traditionally-made pottery and ceramics as well as a candle-making worshop; and the Lojt Kirkeby Moped Museum houses a unique collection of vintage mopeds and light motorcycles. The Aabenraa Marina is also a popular promenade area full of cafes and shops.