Ringkøbing

Ringkøbing is a historic market town on the west coast of the Jutland peninsula, in Ringkøbing-Skjern Municipality in the Central Denmark Region, with a population of around 9,800. Archaeological finds suggest the town was founded in the 13th century, when it was the only real harbour town along the Danish west coast, sheltered from the North Sea by the wall of the Holmsland Dunes. In the 17th century the strait connecting Ringkøbing Fjord to the North Sea gradually shifted south under the influence of wind and tide until it was no longer navigable, cutting the town off from the sea until the early 20th century, when a new channel was built at Hvide Sande. The name Ringkøbing means "the market town near Rindum", referring to a nearby village where a church had been built by the 11th century; evidence of settlements in the area dates back as far as the 6th century. The town's status as a købstad (market town) was confirmed by royal charter in 1443 under Christopher of Bavaria, though the privilege is likely older. Today Ringkøbing is a charming fjord-side town with a well-preserved old square and streets, a popular base for exploring the west-coast landscapes of Ringkøbing Fjord and the North Sea beaches.