Maribo

Maribo is a town in Lolland Municipality in Region Sjælland on the island of Lolland in south Denmark. It was the municipal seat of the former Maribo Municipality, until 1 January 2007, and then it became the seat of the current Lolland Municipality.

This article is about the town. For Maribo brewery, see Maribo Bryghus.

Maribo
Town
Maribo Cathedral
Maribo Cathedral
Coat of arms of Maribo
Coat of arms
Maribo is located in Lolland
Maribo
Maribo
Location on Lolland
Maribo is located in Denmark Region Zealand
Maribo
Maribo
Maribo (Denmark Region Zealand)
Maribo is located in Denmark
Maribo
Maribo
Maribo (Denmark)
Coordinates: 54°46′29″N 11°30′4″E
CountryDenmark
RegionRegion Sjælland
MunicipalityLolland Municipality
Area
 • Urban
4.1 km2 (1.6 sq mi)
Population
 (2023)[1]
 • Urban
5,734
 • Urban density1,400/km2 (3,600/sq mi)
 • Gender [2]
2,648 males and 3,086 females
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
DK-4930 Maribo

The merchant town of Maribo is located centrally on Lolland. Its population is 5,734 (1 January 2023).[1] It has, among other facilities, a gymnasium (Secondary school), a public international school, an open-air museum and a cultural heritage museum.

A brewery, "Maribo Bryghus" used to be located in the town, but it was closed down in 2008 by its owner, Unibrew. Beer labeled "Maribo Øl" is still available, but it is brewed elsewhere.

Surroundings
The small island of Hestø in Maribo Søndersø

Maribo is surrounded by Nørresø ("The Northern Lake" or "Northern Maribo Lake") to the north and Søndersø ("The Southern Lake" or "Southern Maribo Lake") to the south. Søndersø is, with an area of 852 hectare, the largest lake on Lolland. There are more islands in Søndersø than in any other lake in Denmark. These include the islands of Fruerø, Hestø, Præstø, Borgø, Lindø, Askø and Worsaaes. This is part of the Maribo Lakes Nature Park, which spans the towns of Maribo, Holeby, Sakskøbing and Nysted.[3]

History
The ruins of Maribo Abbey

Saint Birgitta (1303–1373), also known as Birgitta of Vadstena, has cast her shadow on this municipality, and is shown on the municipality's coat-of-arms. Her order established the Bridgettine Order's Abbey in Maribo, when in 1416 monks from Vadstena Abbey were sent to Maribo, then called Skimminge, to help establish a monastery.

In 1536, however, the abbey was abolished and transformed into a convent for noble virgins in 1556. After the old town church burned down in 1596, the abbey church then in place received status as town church.[4]

King Christian IV's daughter, Leonora Christina Ulfeldt, was probably the abbey's most famous resident. In 1685 after her release from 21 years imprisonment for high treason from the Blue Tower (Blåtårn) in Copenhagen's Castle, she spent her final years in the then already dilapidated abbey, and was buried in a crypt at the church, until her body was removed shortly after the burial.[5]

In 1803-1804 the islands of Lolland-Falster, which previously belonged to the Funen diocese, were made into an independent diocese, and the abbey church was given the status of the diocese's cathedral (domkirke) now known as Maribo Cathedral. The bishop, however, resides in Nykøbing Falster.

Several times during the 1800s the church has been secured against decline.

Transportation
Maribo railway station

Maribo is located at Lollandsbanen, a railway line between Nykøbing Falster and Nakskov, operated by Lokaltog A/S since 2015. The town is served by Maribo station.

Lolland Falster Airport is located south of Maribo between the towns of Holeby and Rødby.[6]

Maribo Municipality
Maribo City Edge

Until 1 January 2007, Maribo was also a municipality (Danish, kommune) in the former Storstrøm County. The municipality, which included the islands of Askø ("Ash Island") and Lilleø ("little Island") in the Rågø Sound, covered an area of 154 km2, and had a total population of 11,098 (2005). Its last mayor was Liljan Køcks, a member of the Socialist People's Party (Socialistisk Folkeparti) political party.

Maribo Municipality ceased to exist as the result of Kommunalreformen ("The Municipality Reform" of 2007). It was merged with Holeby, Højreby, Nakskov, Ravnsborg, Rudbjerg and Rødby municipalities to form the new Lolland Municipality. This created a municipality with an area of 892 km2 and a total population of 49,469 (2005).

Notable people

See also

References
  1. BY3: Population 1. January by rural and urban areas, area and population density The Mobile Statbank from Statistics Denmark
  2. BY1: Population 1. January by urban areas, age and sex The Mobile Statbank from Statistics Denmark
  3. Maribo Lakes Nature Park VisitLollandFalster
  4. Klosterruinen Museum Lolland-Falster
  5. Royal Daughter Leonora Christina VisitLollandFalster
  6. Lolland Falster airport VisitLollandFalster
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