Silkeborg
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Hjejlen ("The Golden Plover") is an historic steamboat that sails from Silkeborg to Himmelbjerget. In the background can be seen the city's former Paper Mills, now home to the Radisson-SAS hotel and shops.

Silkeborg upper left is south of Viborg and west of Aarhus, on Denmark's Jutland peninsula.

Silkeborg (pronounced [ˈselg̊əˌb̥ɒːˀ]) is a city in central Denmark, located in Silkeborg municipality in Jutland, with a population of 41 674 (2008) ^[1]. The development of Silkeborg as a modern city may be traced to the foundation of the paper mill by Michael Drewsen on the Gudenaa in 1844. The city is divided north and south by the lake, the Silkeborg Langsø, which at the eastern side of the city, resolves into the Guden River (Gudenaa).

The city is notable for the large number of car dealerships located there, and the economically significant presence of the headquarters of Jyske Bank A/S, Denmark's third largest bank.

At the end of June each year, the city is home to the Riverboat Jazz festival.

The city is home of the Tollund man which resides in the Silkeborg Museum.

In 1944, the priest and playwright Kaj Munk was shot by the Gestapo nearby.

The Germans had their headquarters in Jutland during World War II at Silkeborg Bad, the city's former sanatorium known for its curative spring waters. It is now a municipal art centre, where it is possible to visit the wartime bunkers in the grounds.

Silkeborg was the home city of COBRA painter Asger Jorn, and has in addition to the above mentioned Silkeborg Bad art centre another art museum, the Silkeborg Kunst Museum with its large Asger Jorn collection.

Inspired by an Asger Jorn print in a band member's home in Dublin, Ireland, Silkeborg is now also the name of an Irish band [1]

Fireworks

Since 1899 Silkeborg has been hosting an called "Ildfestregatta", which means "fire party regatta". Currently this event is held every third year, where the last event was held on August 13-16, 2008.

At this event the streets are closed at night during the 4 days it lasts in mid-august. There is then held live music along with laser shows, an amusement park and more...

Every night at 11:15 p.m. there will be held an amazing show of fireworks. Every night the fireworks are sponsored by a different fireworks manufacturers, which is then competing against the other companies to have the prettiest show. This show is what the event "Ildfestregatta" is about.

The event's homepage (in Danish): ildefestregatta.dk

Location

Silkeborg is located in mid-eastern Jutland. The surrounding locations of Silkeborg are regarded among the most beautiful places in Denmark. The landscape is dominated by big lakes, forests and some of the highest points in Denmark, including Himmelbjerget. It is also one of the most expensive areas to live in, and the neighbouring towns Sejs is known for its mansions and villas at the lakeside.

Celebrities from Silkeborg

• Alphabeat
• Asger Jorn
• Simon Kvamm

Friendship cities

• Bosnia and Herzegovina: Banja Luka
• Finland: Savonlinna
• Iceland: Árborg
• Norway: Arendal
• Poland: Giżycko
• Sweden: Kalmar
• Germany: Kaiserslautern
• US: Corona, California

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Silkeborg

• Official municipality website
• Silkeborg.com
• Hjejlen.com
• Byopgørelsen (inhabitants cities) latest publications

References

Coordinates: 56°10′N, 9°34′E