Kalundborg municipality
Encyclopedia
Kalundborg municipality is a municipality (Danish
, kommune
) in Region Sjælland
on the west coast of the island of Zealand (Sjælland) in Denmark
. The municipality covers an area of 598 km², and has a total population of 49,743 (2008). Its mayor is Martin Damm, a member of Venstre. The main town and the site of its municipal council is the city of Kalundborg
.
The municipality is surrounded by water on three sides:
The municipalities of Samsø
to the northwest, and Juelsminde
on the Jutland
peninsula to the west are thus also Kalundborg's municipal neighbors, albeit separated by water.
Ferry
lines connect the municipality to Aarhus
on the Jutland
peninsula, and to the island of Samsø
at the central harbour in Kalundborg. The harbour is conveniently located near the Kalundborg train station, which connects to the cities of Holbæk
and Copenhagen
. A large industrial zone, including a South Harbour?, is located south of the town's central area.
On January 1, 2007 Kalundborg municipality was, as the result of Kommunalreformen ("The Municipal Reform" of 2007), merged with existing Gørlev
, Hvidebæk
, Bjergsted
, and Høng
municipalities to form the new Kalundborg municipality.
Stately Lerchenborg Castle, the traditional seat of the aristocratic Lerche family, is located on the forest-covered Asnæs peninsula. It is one of the finest examples of baroque
architecture in Denmark. The home and gardens are open to the public, but is closed during 2005 for restoration. A number of special arrangements take place at the castle during the year, including a Christmas market, music concerts and car shows. The castle was built in 1747 by General Lerche-Lerchenborg. In the southern side wing is a room dedicated to Hans Christian Andersen
who was guest in 1862.
The municipality also encompasses a large body of water near its northern coast— Saltbæk Cove (Saltbæk Vig), which is one of the largest lakes in West Zealand and a bird reservation. Nearby to the south is a public beach.
Our Lady Church (Vor Frue Kirke), erected ca. 1170, is located in the center of Kalundborg city's old quarter called Højbyen ("The High City"). It is a beautiful and unique, five-spired church which is believed to have been built by Esbern Snare. It is closely associated with King Valdemar I
and the famous Archbishop Absalon
.
The city center has cobblestone streets, narrow streets, and well-preserved half-timbered
houses from the Middle Ages
.
Danish language
Danish is a North Germanic language spoken by around six million people, principally in the country of Denmark. It is also spoken by 50,000 Germans of Danish ethnicity in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where it holds the status of minority language...
, kommune
Municipalities of Denmark
This is a list of Municipalities of Denmark.-Region Hovedstaden:* Albertslund Municipality* Allerød Municipality* Ballerup Municipality* Bornholm Regional Municipality* Brøndby Municipality* Copenhagen Municipality* Dragør Municipality* Egedal Municipality...
) in Region Sjælland
Region Sjælland
Region Zealand is an administrative region of Denmark established on January 1, 2007 as part of the 2007 Danish Municipal Reform, which replaced the traditional counties with five larger regions. At the same time, smaller municipalities were merged into larger units, cutting the number of...
on the west coast of the island of Zealand (Sjælland) in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. The municipality covers an area of 598 km², and has a total population of 49,743 (2008). Its mayor is Martin Damm, a member of Venstre. The main town and the site of its municipal council is the city of Kalundborg
Kalundborg
Kalundborg is a city with a population of 16,434 in Kalundborg municipality in Denmark and the site of its municipal council. Kalundborg is on the main island Zealand, with Copenhagen, but opposite on the far western edge....
.
The municipality is surrounded by water on three sides:
- Samsø Bælt— the strait which separates the municipality from the island of SamsøSamsøSamsø is a Danish island in the Kattegat off the Jutland Peninsula. Samsø is located in Samsø municipality. The community has 4,300 inhabitants called Samsingers and is 114 km² in area. Due to its central location, the island was used during the Viking Age as a meeting place...
— and Sejrø Bay (Sejrø Bugt) — the bay in which the island of Sejrø is located) to the north - The Great BeltGreat BeltThe Great Belt is a strait between the main Danish islands of Zealand and Funen . Effectively dividing Denmark in two, the Belt was served by the Great Belt ferries from the late 19th century until the islands were connected by the Great Belt Fixed Link in 1997–98.-Geography:The Great Belt is the...
(Storebælt)— the strait which separates Zealand from the island of FunenFunenFunen , with a size of 2,984 km² , is the third-largest island of Denmark following Zealand and Vendsyssel-Thy, and the 163rd largest island of the world. Funen is located in the central part of the country and has a population of 454,358 inhabitants . The main city is Odense, connected to the...
) and the KattegatKattegatThe Kattegat , or Kattegatt is a sea area bounded by the Jutland peninsula and the Straits islands of Denmark on the west and south, and the provinces of Västergötland, Scania, Halland and Bohuslän in Sweden on the east. The Baltic Sea drains into the Kattegat through the Øresund and the Danish...
to the west - Jammerland Bay (Jammerland Bugt) to the south.
The municipalities of Samsø
Samsø
Samsø is a Danish island in the Kattegat off the Jutland Peninsula. Samsø is located in Samsø municipality. The community has 4,300 inhabitants called Samsingers and is 114 km² in area. Due to its central location, the island was used during the Viking Age as a meeting place...
to the northwest, and Juelsminde
Juelsminde municipality
Until January 1, 2007 Juelsminde municipality was a municipality in Vejle County on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in central Denmark. The municipality included the island of Hjarnø, and covered an area of 240 km². It had a total population of 15,555 . Its last mayor was Peter Schmidt...
on the Jutland
Jutland
Jutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...
peninsula to the west are thus also Kalundborg's municipal neighbors, albeit separated by water.
Ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
lines connect the municipality to Aarhus
Aarhus
Aarhus or Århus is the second-largest city in Denmark. The principal port of Denmark, Aarhus is on the east side of the peninsula of Jutland in the geographical center of Denmark...
on the Jutland
Jutland
Jutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...
peninsula, and to the island of Samsø
Samsø
Samsø is a Danish island in the Kattegat off the Jutland Peninsula. Samsø is located in Samsø municipality. The community has 4,300 inhabitants called Samsingers and is 114 km² in area. Due to its central location, the island was used during the Viking Age as a meeting place...
at the central harbour in Kalundborg. The harbour is conveniently located near the Kalundborg train station, which connects to the cities of Holbæk
Holbæk
Holbæk is a town in Denmark and the seat of Holbæk municipality with a population of 27,055 . The city is located in the northeastern part of Region Sjælland, Denmark....
and Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. A large industrial zone, including a South Harbour?, is located south of the town's central area.
On January 1, 2007 Kalundborg municipality was, as the result of Kommunalreformen ("The Municipal Reform" of 2007), merged with existing Gørlev
Gørlev
Gørlev is a town with a population of 2,482 on the west coast of the island of Zealand in Denmark, belonging to Kalundborg Municipality in Region Sjælland...
, Hvidebæk
Hvidebæk
Until 1 January 2007 Hvidebæk was a municipality in West Zealand County on the west coast of the island of Zealand in Denmark. The municipality covered an area of 98,26 km², and had a total population of 5,492 . Its last mayor was Henning Fougt, a member of the Venstre political party...
, Bjergsted
Bjergsted
Until 1 January 2007, Bjergsted was a municipality in West Zealand County on the west coast of the island of Zealand in Denmark. The municipality included the islands of Sejrø and Nekselø, and covered an area of 138.62 km². It had a total population of 8,047...
, and Høng
Høng
Høng is a town with a population of 4,357 and a former municipality in Region Sjælland near the west coast of the island of Zealand in Denmark. The municipality covered an area of 145 km², and had a total population of 8.411...
municipalities to form the new Kalundborg municipality.
Attractions
The tip of Røsnæs peninsula is the westernmost point on the island of Zealand. On the northern side of the peninsula is the Skanse Forest (Skanseskoven) which has a rich birdlife. During the spring and autumn it is visited by many migrating birds.Stately Lerchenborg Castle, the traditional seat of the aristocratic Lerche family, is located on the forest-covered Asnæs peninsula. It is one of the finest examples of baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
architecture in Denmark. The home and gardens are open to the public, but is closed during 2005 for restoration. A number of special arrangements take place at the castle during the year, including a Christmas market, music concerts and car shows. The castle was built in 1747 by General Lerche-Lerchenborg. In the southern side wing is a room dedicated to Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
who was guest in 1862.
The municipality also encompasses a large body of water near its northern coast— Saltbæk Cove (Saltbæk Vig), which is one of the largest lakes in West Zealand and a bird reservation. Nearby to the south is a public beach.
Our Lady Church (Vor Frue Kirke), erected ca. 1170, is located in the center of Kalundborg city's old quarter called Højbyen ("The High City"). It is a beautiful and unique, five-spired church which is believed to have been built by Esbern Snare. It is closely associated with King Valdemar I
Valdemar I of Denmark
Valdemar I of Denmark , also known as Valdemar the Great, was King of Denmark from 1157 until 1182.-Biography:...
and the famous Archbishop Absalon
Absalon
Absalon was a Danish archbishop and statesman, who was the Bishop of Roskilde from 1158 to 1192 and Archbishop of Lund from 1178 until his death. He was the foremost politician and churchfather of Denmark in the second half of the 12th century, and was the closest advisor of King Valdemar I of...
.
The city center has cobblestone streets, narrow streets, and well-preserved half-timbered
Timber framing
Timber framing , or half-timbering, also called in North America "post-and-beam" construction, is the method of creating structures using heavy squared off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs . It is commonplace in large barns...
houses from the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
.