The church at Jelling, Denmark, Unesco world heritage
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Jelling is the site of a large stone ship and two large burial mounds, the Jelling stones and Jelling Church which are an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994. In the North Mound, built between 958 and 959 CE (possibly for King Gorm of Denmark), an empty burial chamber was found. The South Mound was built around 970 and contains no burial. Beneath the two mounds is a large stone ship from around the end of the 9th century. Between the two mounds stands two rune stones, the Jelling stones. Near the stones, Gorm's son King Harald I of Denmark (Harald bluetooth) built a wooden church (965), and beneath it re-interred (965–966) the remains of his father.
The large rune stone at Jelling is often called “Denmark’s birth certificate”, because Denmark is named in the inscription and also because the stone is a clear material proof of the change in religion. (Den Store Jelling Sten)
see also: whc.unesco.org/en/list/697
Submitted 20/07/2014
Accepted 20/08/2014
Published:
- Explora SA (Switzerland) 09-Oct-2025
The church at Jelling, Denmark, Unesco world heritage
Buy this photo on Getty Images : Getty Images
Jelling is the site of a large stone ship and two large burial mounds, the Jelling stones and Jelling Church which are an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994. In the North Mound, built between 958 and 959 CE (possibly for King Gorm of Denmark), an empty burial chamber was found. The South Mound was built around 970 and contains no burial. Beneath the two mounds is a large stone ship from around the end of the 9th century. Between the two mounds stands two rune stones, the Jelling stones. Near the stones, Gorm's son King Harald I of Denmark (Harald bluetooth) built a wooden church (965), and beneath it re-interred (965–966) the remains of his father.
The large rune stone at Jelling is often called “Denmark’s birth certificate”, because Denmark is named in the inscription and also because the stone is a clear material proof of the change in religion. (Den Store Jelling Sten)
see also: whc.unesco.org/en/list/697
Submitted 20/07/2014
Accepted 20/08/2014
Published:
- Explora SA (Switzerland) 09-Oct-2025