The Old Town

The Old Town is an open-air museum in Aarhus containing 75 historical buildings from various Danish towns, arranged as street scenes from different centuries. The houses display how people lived and worked from the 1700s through the 1970s.

The museum was founded in 1914, starting with a Renaissance-style mayor's house and expanding through donations of buildings from around twenty Danish communities. The collection grew over decades into a comprehensive record of urban life.

Staff members wear period clothing and demonstrate traditional crafts in workshops, shops, and homes throughout the grounds. Visitors observe how people worked and lived in different eras through authentic scenes and everyday activities.

The visit works best in daylight, as buildings are spread across open grounds with much to explore at your own pace. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, as you will cover considerable distance on foot throughout the grounds.

The buildings are not arranged chronologically but follow a time-travel logic showing how a city evolved and grew over 200 years. Visitors move through different eras without following a traditional timeline structure.

Location: Aarhus Municipality

Inception: 1914

Founders: Peter Holm

Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access

Website: https://dengamleby.dk

GPS coordinates: 56.15889,10.19167

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:58